Court Music of Vietnam (under the Nguyen Dynasty) was recognised as an intangible and oral cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2003. Since then, the techniques and know-how in court music performance have not adequately been developed and transferred to the next generation of artists. Meanwhile, materials about court music are scattered and not kept systematically, and the number of artists that can perform this type of special music is reducing with time.
For the first time, there has been an effort by the Traditional Hue Court Music Theatre to collect information about all the artists and their special “tricks”. According to the director of the Theatre, Truong Tuan Hai, the tricks are the key basis for the development of court music, and they can be considered as the treasures of court music.
The research team approached 20 artisans of court music and dance who are living in Hue and surrounding areas, during a year of study. This helped the team realise that court music had not lost its identity, but on the contrary, the artists have been preserving the special aspects of court music.
Among the court music artists, Lu Huu Thi and Tran Kich are two outstanding elderly artists. Lu Huu Thi is now 102 years old, and lives in Huong Vinh commune, Huong Tra district, Thua Thien Hue province. He is the last member of the Hoa Thanh Music Team (small team) during the Bao Dai King’s reign. He can play the traditional drums, trumpet, nhi (Vietnamese two chord fiddles), and other musical instruments, but he really excelled in the nhi and bop trumpet. He is the only artist that remembers the old “Thai” tunes that were used in the “Nam Giao” worship ceremony, which was very complicated and delicate. Artist Luu Huu Thi has also transferred some of his knowledge to his family members and younger generations.
Meanwhile, artist Tran Kich from Quang Thanh commune, Quang Dien district of Thua Thien Hue province has spent years collecting and documenting more than 30 compositions for both the full orchestra (dai nhac) and the chamber orchestra (tieu nhac). He is also accomplished in many music instruments essential to the court music orchestra, which create the deep, luxurious and tranquil tunes.
The researchers went from one surprise to another, when they witnessed the performance of artist Ho Dang Chau, Truong Canh Hung, and Pham Ba Dien, performing various hymns for dances like “Thien Ha Thai Binh” (Peaceful Nation) or “Bat Dat”. Many people have started to called them “living legends”
According to the deputy director of Hue Heritage Preservation Centre Phan Thanh Hai, the files on the living artists provide the know-how and insights into Court Music for future development. They also add to the preparations for the Hue Court Music Database.
