(VOVWORLD) - This year marks the 20th anniversary of UNESCO’s recognition of Nha Nhac (royal court music) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Over the years, Thua Thien-Hue provincial authorities, together with artisans and artists have made an effort to preserve and promote this music genre.
 Duyet Thi Duong - the 200-year-old Hue Royal Traditional Art Theater at the Hue Imperial Citadel. (Photo: VOV) |
Nha Nhac developed during the Le dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from the 15th to 18th centuries, and reached its peak during the Nguyen Dynasty, the last dynasty in the country. For hundreds of years Nha Nhac has been preserved in different forms – orchestral and court ritual music, court dances, chamber music, and opera. It is performed at diplomatic receptions, and at public events, including the Lunar New Year festival.
Duyet Thi Duong - the 200-year-old Hue Royal Traditional Art Theater at the Hue Imperial Citadel is where performances of folk dances, Tuong (classical opera), and Nha Nhac take place.
“We organize Nha Nhac shows at the Hue Imperial Citadel to revitalize this unique music genre which used to be performed at the royal court and Kings’ tombs,” said Emeritus artisan Hoang Trong Cuong, deputy director of the Hue Royal Theatre.
Nha Nhac combines a broad range of musical and dance styles. Hoang Tuan, a musician with the Duyet Thi Duong theatre, said, “When performing Nha Nhac, I focus on conveying its melodies to the audience in the hope that they can feel the soul of Nha Nhac and the Vietnamese spirit.”
Hoang Thu Trang, a visitor from Hanoi“It’s wonderful to enjoy Nha Nhac at Duyet Thi Duong theatre. It feels better in the ambience of the royal court. Listening to Nha Nhac, we can imagine how life was in the past during the royal dynasties.”
 Nha Nhac combines a broad range of musical and dance styles. (Photo: VOV) |
Generations of artists and musicians of the Duyet Thi Duong theatre have collected, restored, and complied dossiers of different music genres, including Nha Nhac, royal dances, and royal classical opera.
“As many old artists have died, the theatre’s artists have been training the younger generations to perform. That’s one way we’re keeping Nha Nhac alive,” said People’s Artist Pham Thi Bach Hac, the Director of the Hue Royal Theatre.
Over the past two decades, Nha Nhac has been brought closer to the public, thanks to the efforts of generations of artists.
“We will focus on creating more venues for Nha Nhac and training the younger generations to preserve this music genre. We need proper policies and mechanisms to encourage talent and increase international exchanges to promote Nha Nhac to the world,” said Phan Thanh Hai, Director of Thua Thien-Hue province’s Department of Culture and Sports.