Seven events featuring concerts, workshops and festivals on New Music will take place in Hanoi from February 21 to April 27, with the participation of Vietnamese and international composers and musicians.
The press brief
announcing the launch of New Music show held in Hanoi on February 20.
This information was announced at a press conference
held by the Goethe Institut Hanoi on February 20.
According to Director
of Goethe Institute Vietnam, Wilfried Eckstein, in Vietnam, New Music has
gained considerable importance in cultural life and enjoys growing interest
among the young and old. Vietnamese composers and musicians perform new music
for national and international audiences. Their musical spectrum is
wide-ranging. For them, in addition to the European music of the 20th century
as a reference for the art of composing, there is a multi-faceted Vietnamese
music history ready to inspire and challenge them.
"Acknowledging this
musical wealth and the variety of musical paths, the Goethe-Institut promotes
concerts that break new ground in terms of sound aesthetics. We also look at
the beginnings of New Music in Europe and we promote innovation in Vietnam’s
music.” he said.
The series of events
on New Music will open with a performance of Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold
Schonberg on February 21 at the Youth Theatre, No.11 Ngo Thi Nham street, Hanoi.
The eight musicians are specialised in contemporary music and experimental
playing practices at the interface between performance, improvisation and the
interpretation of composed music.
The programme will
include a Multimedia Concert composed by Vietnamese artist Luong Hue Trinh
under the direction of conductor Jef von der Schmidt, which combines
traditional Vietnamese music with contemporary composition and improvisation.
The performance is considered as an aesthetic exploration into the role of women
today. Vietnamese artists will also perform their talent at a concert by
Vietnamese composer Ton That Tiet, Nguyen Thien Dao and Vu Nhat Tan. The
performance will be based on the Vietnamese concept of the Five Natural
Elements.
The series of events will
also include performances that broaden the artistic message in terms of sound,
melody, rhythm, shape and the use of media. New music is searching for new
sounds, new forms or novel combinations of old styles, whether it continues
existing traditions or deliberately breaks with them.
Source: NDO
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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