(VOVWORLD) - Audiences were treated to improvised folk music and new arrangements of traditional folk tunes and ancient songs that are on the brink of oblivion at the folk music festival late last month in the northern Quang Ninh province. The event is part of the National Tourism Year Ha Long - Quang Ninh 2018.
The new arrangement of an excerpt of the central province Thua Thien Hue’s folk song entitled “Singing of the homeland” won the hearts of many audience attending the festival, including that of Nguyen Bac Viet of Ha Long City who worked and lived in Hue province during war time.
"I was touched and impressed with the song’s new arrangement which is still able to tell real-life stories with authenticity of emotion. I never miss a festival featuring Hue songs as they are simple yet so close to people’s hearts," said Viet.
With the themes of praising the homeland, the spirit of solidarity, and nation building and defense, the festival saw the participation of more than 1,000 artists and musicians from 25 provinces and cities nationwide.
"In addition to preserving the original versions of ancient songs, we encourage participants to create new lyrics and rearrange the tunes to make it easier for the audience to understand and enjoy the performances. Along with protecting the ancient dances, we also combine contemporary dances in the performance of old music to attract younger audiences," said Nguyen Thi Mai Huong, Director of Thanh Hoa provincial Cultural Center.
Visitors were regaled with enchanting performances of Central Highlands folk tunes, the profound ritual and blind singing shows of Hanoi, and romantic folk songs of Vietnam’s northwestern region.
"The festival highlights new approaches in preserving our traditional folk music: protecting and adapting traditional values into the new contexts. The same folk songs could be performed in different ways in different times and contexts. The festival has helped bring folk songs to the attention of a wider public," said Emeritus Artist Luong Nguyen, Head of the festival’s jury board.
Thao A Lin of Lao Cai province’s Bac Ha district told VOV: "It’s necessary to have appropriate policies to encourage folk artists to pass down their knowledge and skills to younger generations. At the same, young people interested in folk music should be offered favorable conditions to practice the art forms and further promote them."