asianmusicproject
Collection of Information and Instructional Materials in Asian Music
Vietnam is officially known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This country is located on the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula.
The Vietnamese music has had a rather long history. Since ancient times, the Vietnamese have had a strong inclination for music. The music for the Vietnamese people is considered to be an essential need; therefore, numerous musical instruments and genres intended for various purposes have been developed. Vietnamese people use music to express their innermost feelings, to encourage themselves while working and fighting, to educate their children in good traditions and national sentiment, to communicate with the invisible, and to sublimate their aspirations for a happy life.
The simple and primitive instruments, as well as the more sophisticated ones, have been preserved to form a rich musical treasure. Numerous forms of songs and music have also been created and retained. They include lullabies, children songs, ritual songs, festivity songs, various work songs, courtship songs, riddle songs, melodies, and poem narration. There are also songs and music for groups, as well as for traditional theatre.
The Vietnamese traditional music is diverse due to the various genres that took shape during different periods of history. Songs of the same genre often differ very much in melody and expression from ethnicity to ethnicity. As a result, lullabies, for example, of the Kinh differ from those of the Muong.
The traditional music has played an important role in the lives of the Vietnamese. Currently, music still occupies a considerable position in the spiritual lives of the Vietnamese. Some genres of music still exist in rural areas, while others were brought to the stage to meet the demands of the population.
Music of Vietnam
Characterisitcs
Children's songs, folk songs, and theater and instrumental music derived from a sophisticated system of pitch and rhythmic components are all part of Vietnamese musical expression. This means a realizaition of variations and improvisation of the structure may be fleshed out with various embellishments by the performer.
The songs are sang in monophonic with light accomonpaniment or heterphonic with adding their own melodification.
1. Imperial court music
The most popular of this kind is the Nha nhac that was popularly performed during the Tran Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty. This form of classical music is also performed in honour of the gods and scholars in temples. Other classical music falling into this category include the Dai Nhac (“great music”) and the Tieu Nhac (“small music”) which was performed as chamber music for the king.
2. Folk music (Dan Ca)
Vietnamese folk music has influenced art styles, and art music has had a clear impact on folk genres. While folk song is closely linked to agricultural life, expressing local customs and occupational skills, art music includes an elaborate system of modes and requires high performance skills
3. Religious and Ceremonial music
This is music performed in religious rituals or at funerals.
Forms, Techniques, Styles and others
