Viet Nam News
NINH THUAN — Traditional music of the ethnic Cham should be preserved and introduced at community events across the country, speakers at a seminar in the central province of Ninh Thuan said on Wednesday.
The seminar was organised by the Viet Nam Institute of Musicological under the management of the Viet Nam National Academy of Music (VNAM) and the provincial People’s Committee
Meritorious Artist and musician AMu Nhan of the province said Cham music is tyically performed at festivals and religious rituals in the Cham community.
“It should be performed at community events across the country,” he said.
Meritorious Artist Dang Quang Dung of the HCM City Association for Literature and Arts of the Ethnic Minority Groups said: “Preserving Cham music should focus on raising young people’s passion for the music and teaching them to play traditional Cham musical instruments.”
“For years many traditional songs have disappeared following the death of old musicians, while young generations do not have much interest in learning the art,” said Dung.
Seminar participants emphasised the need to research and collect old traditional songs to popularise them in the community, particularly youth.
AMu Nhan suggested that the Viet Nam Institute of Musicology and the Viet Nam Musician’s Association work together to print books of favourite folk songs in both Vietnamese and Cham languages and publicise the books in Ninh Thuan and other provinces.
“The books are the best ways to attract young people,” AMu Nhan said.
Le Anh Tuan, director of the Viet Nam Institute of Musicology, said Cham music played an important role in the Cham community and had unique cultural value.
The music should be preserved, but the preservation work faces challenges, he said.
“Through the seminar, the provincial authorities, cultural experts and musicians have learned more about the music and they need to work together to develop and promote the art,” Tuan said. — VNS