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Music revival: The Hue Royal Court's bien chung instrument is displayed in Hue's Duyet Thi Duong Theatre, after it was restored in 2003. — VNS Photo Thai Loc |
THUA THIEN HUE — A project to restore antique instruments used in the Hue Royal Court has received financial and technical support from experts at the Korean National Centre of Traditional Performance and Art.
The Hue Relics Preservation Centre said South Korean and Vietnamese experts would take a year to upgrade two series of traditional instruments called bien chung (bronze bells) and bien khanh (musical stones).
They will conduct research on the way to play the instruments, which were popular in Hue in the early 20th century.
These instruments are rarely used today and musicians do not know how to play them.
The funds will be drawn from the provincial budget and the Korean Centre.
According to Hue Relics Preservation Centre, only eight bien chung and ten bien khanh are displayed at the Hue Royal Court Antiques Museum.
All the intruments have been damaged.
Experts said each series of bien chung and bien khanh should include 12 items.
In 2003, Vietnamese experts restored the instruments but the work was not well-executed.
The restoration project is part of a national programme to preserve and expand the values of Hue Royal Court Music, nha nhac, the first intangible heritage of Viet Nam to be recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 2003.
The music nha nhac is performed at annual festivals, celebrations and special events, such as enthronement, funerals and official receiving ceremonies. — VNS