Top ten musical events of 2014

A performance by the Vietnam Cheo Theatre at the Traditional Musical Instrument Solos and Ensembles Festival

1. Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk singing was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a world intangible cultural heritage of humanity on November 27.

 

The nomination dossier of Vi-Giam was approved at the UNESCO’s Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paris, raising Vietnamese people’s awareness of preserving the value of Vi-Giam folk singing.

 

2. The VMA was granted the State’s title ‘Hero of the People's Armed Forces’ on December 4 for its great contributions to the development of the Vietnamese music.

 

At the granting ceremony, two musicians, Xuan Hong and Vinh Bao, were also presented the title.

 

3. A wide variety of artistic activities were held across the country to mark the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 – 2014), which helped end the French colonial rule in Viet Nam.

 

The special arts programme, entitled ‘Dien Bien Phu – an eternal epic’ at Dien Bien Phu city’s square on the evening of May 6, was the most outstanding event.

 

Other musical activities took place on the occasion, including the mobile art programme entitled ‘Art pilgrimage to Dien Bien Phu’ with the participation of about 120 artists from March 9 to 13 and the performance of the ‘Co Sao’ (Lady Sao), Viet Nam's first opera, composed by songwriter Do Nhuan.

 

4. The 2014 Asia–Europe New Music Festival was held in Ha Noi and Ha Long city, in Quang Ninh province from October 8 to 12 with the participation of nearly 200 composers from 30 countries around the world.

 

The festival offered an opportunity for outstanding composers and performing artists to meet and exchange professional experience.

 

Earlier, the VMA was admitted to the Asian Composers League (ACL) and won the right to host ACL’s 34th Musical Festival in 2016.

 

5. The 2014 National Ca tru Festival took place in Ha Noi from August 26 to 29, drawing the participation of 26 ca tru clubs from 12 localities around the country.

 

The organising board presented five gold, six silver and 12 bronze prizes to outstanding performances, as well as granting awards to the nine best voices, eight best instrumentalists and the most promising singer.

 

6. The Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra performed at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, and the Philharmonic concert hall in Russia.

 

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra joined the 13th Asia Orchestra Week in Tokyo, Japan from October 3-9.

 

7. The first Monsoon Music Festival at Ha Noi’s Thang Long Imperial Citadel from October 2-4 attracted over 100 local and international artists and musicians, as part of activities to mark Ha Noi’s 60th Liberation Day (October 10).

 

Famous Vietnamese artists, such as singers Thanh Lam and Ha Tran, Kimmese, Suboi, 5 Dong Ke, Ngu Cung, and foreign artists including percussionist Rhani Krija from Morocco, keyboard player Martin Hedin from Sweden, jazz guitarist French-Vietnamese Nguyen Le and others from Denmark, the UK, France, Belgium, the Republic of Korea and Japan, gave special performances delighting Hanoi’s audiences.

 

8. The contest on literature and art works on Viet Nam’s two resistance wars, against the French and Americans between 1930 and 1975, was launched for all Vietnamese people.

 

The event was held by the VMA, in co-ordination with Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The awards ceremony is set to be held in May, 2015.

 

9. The Traditional Musical Instrument Solos and Ensembles Festival took place from June 10-15 in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

 

The festival attracted 25 art troupes, with 153 performances in various traditional music genres such as cai luong (southern folk opera), cheo (traditional northern-style opera), tuong (Vietnamese classical opera), cong chieng (gong), nha nhac (Hue royal court music).

 

10. The VMA held a wide range of activities over 2014 including the publishing of the collection of songs 'Waves Rising in East Sea', an art program entitled ‘To be Vietnamese people’ and Music festivals in the Central Highlands and southern central region (March 17-18), in the Northern region (April 4-5) and the Mekong Delta River region (November 26-29). - ND