Viet Nam News
HCM CITY— A new TV programme on Vietnamese music airing on HCM City Television (HTV) has attracted many young viewers in the city and southern provinces.
Am Nhac Toa Sang (The Beauty of Music) features new contemporary folk and pop songs by both veteran and young composers.
Songs in praise of the country, its people and soldiers are featured.
Performed monthly at Ben Thanh Theatre, the programme attracted more than 100,000 viewers in April, many of them are teenagers who often prefer Korean and American music.
Through the programme, organised by the HCM City Music Association in co-operation with its partner, Performance Organisation Centre, many poor people in remote areas now have access to entertainment.
“Young composers, particularly students from music schools, are encouraged to create songs based on folk tunes and introduce their new works at our show,” said musician Nguyen Quang Vinh, member of the Viet Nam Musicians Association and head of the programme’s organising board.
Vinh said that veteran musicians such as Tran Long An, Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Ton That Lap and Vy Nhat Tao will select the best songs and offer guidance to the singers during their performance.
"By composing, singing and listening to Vietnamese songs, young generations can improve their love and knowledge about the country, traditional culture and lifestyle," said singer and songwriter Nguyen Phi Hung of HCM City, who often performs in the programme.
Although Hung’s music is dance, he found his source of inspiration by singing folk works such as Tieng Hat Tu Long Dat (Singing from the Land) by Pham Minh Tuan and Nho Cac Anh (Missing You) by The Hien, which feature Vietnamese soldiers.
Hung and his colleagues, including composers Nguyen Van Chung and Hoai An, also sent their songs to the programme popular with thousands of students and migrant workers.
Am Nhac Toa Sang will be performed at Ben Thanh Theatre, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, and broadcast live every Sunday morning. Performances are free. —VNS