Vietnam Court music

The project to preserve court music or Nha nhac in Vietnam will receive over USD 65,000 for its operation in 2006.

Of the funding, Japan will provide nearly USD 23,000 through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the rest will come from Vietnam.

Under the project, a number of typical court music pieces, costumes and traditional musical instruments will be restored and training courses will be organised for people involved in collecting, storing and publicizing Nha nhac.

Nha nhac, the court music of Vietnam’s former imperial city of Hue, was recognised by UNESCO as one of the world's 28 intangible oral heritages in early November, 2003.

It is performed by typical traditional instruments such as dan tam (three-chord zither), dan nhi (two-chord fiddle), dan nguyet (two-chord guitar), dan ty ba (Chinese four-chord lute), sao truc (bamboo flute), drums, and gongs. It is usually accompanied with dances and songs containing academic content.

Referred to as "elegant music,” the music was commonly performed at grand royal ceremonies and religious events as well as on special occasions. It was first introduced to the public during the Ly Dynasty in the 15th century and flourished in the country's last feudal dynasty, the Nguyen, in the late 18th century.

Nha nhac is now taught at the Hue Fine Arts College, a club and a number of artists' households in Hue.

(Source: VNA)