VietNamNet Bridge – The Music and Press Club, under the Vietnam Musicians’ Association (VMA), and the Vietnam Journalists’ Association on December 16 announced the top ten Vietnamese musical events and activities of 2014.

The Nghe Tinh Vi - Giam folk singing was recognised by UNESCO as a world intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

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 file 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.

Vi-Giam singing is popular in Vietnam’s central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

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 arts activities were held across the country to mark the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 – 2014), which helped end French colonial rule in Vietnam.

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.

A performance at the 'Dien Bien Phu - an eternal epic'

In addition, numerous 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), the first opera composed with Vietnamese revolutionary music by songwriter Do Nhuan.

4. The 2014 Asia–Europe New Music Festival was held in Hanoi 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 experiences.

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

A performance at the 2014 Asia–Europe New Music Festival

5. The 2014 National Ca tru Festival took place in Hanoi 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 granted awards to the nine best voices, eight best instrumentalists and the most promising singer.

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

In addition, 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 Hanoi’s Thang Long Imperial Citadel from October 2-4 attracted over 100 local and international artists and musicians, as part of activities to mark Hanoi’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.

A concert at the Monsoon Music Festival

8. The contest on literature and art works on Vietnam’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, 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 10-15in Da Lat City, the Central Highland 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), nhac nhac (Hue royal court music).

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

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 programme entitled ‘To be Vietnamese people’ and Music festivals in the Central Highland and southern central region (March 17-18), in Northern region (April 4-5) and Mekong Delta River region (November 26-29).

Nhan Dan/VNN