Vietnamese Music
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INVISIBLE YET SPEAKS TO THE HEART, INTANGIBLE YET A RICH EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS, MUSIC ALLOWS US TO FEEL, TO REMEMBER, TO COMMUNICATE; TO BE TRANSPORTED TO FAMILIAR PLACES FROM OUR PAST, AND JOURNEY WITH IMAGINATION INTO THE FUTURE.
MUSIC IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF VIETNAM’S CULTURE. IT HAS HELPED BUILD THE SOCIETY TO WHAT IT IS TODAY AND WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE GENERATIONS TO COME.
From wedding to funeral, worships to entertainment, you will find the influence of music infiltrating in many aspects of life in the country. To listen to Vietnamese music is to connect to the core of the culture, to hear its soul and perhaps the heartbeat of its people.
The history of Vietnamese music is shown to have been influenced by different cultures, from the Chinese musical tradition to the Korean, Mongolian, and even Japanese. These influences have been blended into the rich musical cultural heritage of the Vietnamese.
Vietnam has over 54 cultural minority groups and each of these groups shows its own cultural diversity of the ethnic music. Linguistically, each of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam may be further classified into one of the five language families such as: Austro - Asiatic (Viet Muong groups and Mon Khmer), Austronesian (Malayo - Polynesian), Thai - Kadai (Thai group and Kadai group), Sino - Tibetan (Sinotic group and Tibetan - Burman), Hmong - Dao.
Music also sounds different throughout the land. In the north, classical music is often heard. Melancholic melodies are associated with central Vietnam and the more eclectic tunes are linked to the south.
Instruments And Genres:
Traditionally the Vietnamese had a wide range of unique instruments used to produce music. Emphasis is placed on percussion, wind and string instruments. When combined and played together in harmony, a diverse soundscape is created, but more essentially, different feelings are evoked.
The visually-stunning T'rưng is a bamboo xylophone that is closely linked to the spiritual life of the minority groups of the Vietnamese people, especially those from the highlands.
The curious-looking Đàn đá, a lithophone, has a rather prehistoric appearance, yet when struck with hammers, a celestial-like ringing in various tones is produced.
The Sáo, which is also called sáo trúc, takes the semblance of a flute except that this particular instrument is carved out of a bamboo trunk. The peaceful yet haunting sound produced by the Sáo reminds one of the the four seasons and being at one with nature. It has been said that the Vietnamese people play music from the Sáo when they are resting on the green fields, drawing inspiration from the surrounding nature.
An interesting wind instrument used in Vietnam is Kèn bầu, an oboe. Mainly played by the men, this instrument gets its sound from a bell made from the dried peel of a gourd. It is known to produce a high-pitched and strong expressive sound.
The main string instrument in Vietnamese music is Đàn bầu, a monochord zither. Wood like mahogany is selected to make the zither because of its durability as well as beautiful grain. The strings are made from iron and when plucked, produce a unique sound that contributes to different types of melodies.
Another alluring instrument played in Vietnamese music is the Đàn nguyệt, a two-stringed fretted round-shaped lute that pays homage to the full moon. The melody from this instrument is mostly used for funerals as well as in opera performances.
When it comes to themes, Vietnamese music spans over different categories.
During ancient imperial times, royal court music was performed in honour of the gods, to entertain the king, as well as for ceremonial purposes. At times the music can be solemn, especially if performed at rituals or funerals. But generally court music is refined, classical, and expresses an air of elegance, with a history dating back to a thousand years, from the Trần dynasty to the very last Nguyễn dynasty of Vietnam.
Folk music is known as Ca trù or hát ả đào. This is the music for the people, and the theme is mainly to entertain using poetry. Folk music performances usually involve three key players - a musician playing an instrument like the Dan Day, a drummer, and a female singer who can play some percussive instruments as well. Such performance often reminds people of a Japanese geisha performance, where women are trained in music and poetry, with the purpose of entertaining rich and powerful men. It is a very traditional form of Vietnamese music and is very rare to find nowadays.
Vietnamese Music Across The Land:
As you visit different regions in Vietnam, you will discover that Vietnamese music is distinctly divided into the northern, southern and the central Vietnam genres.
In the north, you can find traditional music dedicated to the gods and ancestors. Performances like these sometimes can last for hours. The northern Vietnamese people’s love for poetry is so great that you can find music accompanied by dance, in a theatrical expression portraying the basic ideals which the Vietnamese stand for - Love, simplicity, patriotism and optimism. Known as Chèo music, it is closely associated with the people of the Red River Delta and it is divided into literary genres that include romance and poetry. The history of Chèo music dates back to the 10th century and still lives on today.
In the south, you can listen to Đờn Ca Tài Tử, a type of music that embodies the deep cultural heritage of the Vietnamese people. With a history of a hundred years, it is even recognised by UNESCO. This music sees a combination of joyful lyrics and musical instruments that usually include the Đàn nguyệt (lute), Đàn bầu (monochord), Đàn tam, Đàn tranh (zither) and Đàn tỳ bà (pipa). This music is usually enjoyed by the locals after a hard day’s work.
In central Vietnam, you can also listen to a similar kind of folk song linked to the labourers of the region. The Hò and Lý are said to depict the workers’ moods as well as their emotions.
Hò and Lý are similar except that Hò is associated with working while Lý is not. It is an ancient form of music, but it is still played in modern Vietnam.
There is also an emphasis placed in an orchestral music known as Nhã Nhạc. In ancient Vietnam, this music was mainly known as the royal court music, played in the chambers of kings in a bid to wish the king prosperity as well as a long and fruitful life. The Nhã Nhạc can be played by close to a hundred instruments. It was the most popular form of imperial court music and was usually accompanied by royal dances. This form of music dates back to the 19th century and exudes elegance and regality whenever it is performed.
When it comes to the music of the ethnic tribes in Vietnam, you can find different genres and musical styles that also have connections to the daily life and rituals of each tribe.
Music At A Red Dao Wedding:
At a Red Dao wedding, a ceremonial music band is essential to have, not just for a festive atmosphere, but also to conduct certain rituals. The role which music and the band plays in a Red Dao wedding is so important that a wedding without music is called a “deaf wedding”, and the Red Dao people will try their best to incorporate music at weddings, even if that means extra expenditure.
From clarinets to drums, the Red Dao wedding music expresses joy. Starting from the moment the couple announces their intention to marry, music will be played at each meeting when both families get together for discussion. On the wedding day, the groom’s musical band will play music that expresses respect, warmly welcoming the bride, her family and guests.
The band will circle around the bride and her delegates three times in a clockwise direction, drawing an invisible string around the bridal party as a form of binding, connecting them to the groom’s family.
Next the band reverse its steps in an anti-clockwise direction to untie the invisible string for the bridal escorts but not the bride. This signifies that the bride is now part of the groom’s family, where she will stay forever.
Just as the bride enters the groom’s house, the band will play again, as the musicians walk around the altar, circling the bride once more. The band only pauses briefly during the altar worship, where respect is given to the ancestors. After the wedding ceremony, the band will play another tune to announce the beginning of a feast. After the meal, the band will play again to thank all the guests. Music and the Red Dao wedding truly goes hand in hand.
Music is indeed an integral part of the Vietnamese culture, from the tribes in the rural regions to the people living in the cities. From the people in the past to their descendants living in the present. Merely reading the descriptions of genres and the sounds of instruments will never truly live up to the experience of listening to the sublime tunes and unique timbre that embodies the true essence of Vietnam. Visit our playlist to get acquainted with Vietnamese music and begin your exploration and education of the Vietnamese culture.
Traditional folk music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvoJdhkxYIs