THUA THIEN-HUE (VNS)— Hue Monument Complex Centre is restoring a percussion instrument that was used in the royal court music of Hue, in an attempt to popularise the instrument in performances of royal music.

The percussion instrument, known as bien chung, was popular throughout Viet Nam, China and South Korea during the feudal period. The instrument consists of a set of 12 small golden bells, each carrying a single musical note, and was used to make court music in grand feudal ceremonies.

Performance of the music had faded until the centre managed to archive production and performance of the instrument in 2003, after UNESCO named the music as an intangible form of world cultural heritage.

Phan Thanh Hai, director of the centre, said the bells were being made in Hue's Phong Duc Village, famous for its casting techniques.

Excited for the instruments return to prominence, Hai wants more bien chungs for performances, adding that a South Korean artist had come to Hue last year to share performance techniques as part of a special training programme.

Vietinbank Hue is sponsoring the total cost of the project.-VNS