HCM CITY(VNS)— A group of Vietnamese and foreign music researchers and artists plan to make the film Vu Khuc Dong Duong (Indochina Dance) about the traditional music of tai tu (Amateur Singing) of southern Viet Nam.

Vu Khuc Dong Duong is the name of the oldest piece in tai tu history. It was accidentally found by the Australian-Vietnamese music expert Nguyen Le Tuyen while he was conducting research on the musical genre at the French National Library last year.

Vu Khuc Dong Duong was performed at the Indochina Theatre at the Paris International Fair in 1900, according to Tuyen's discovery.

"Tuyen's discovery inspired us to make the film. We begin filming this month," Ngo Thi Hanh, the film scriptwriter, said.

The film will feature tai tu music in My Tho and tai tu artists in the early 20th century in the Mekong Delta region.

Highlighted in the film will be artist Nguyen Tong Trieu, the founder of a tai tu music troupe.

The troupes' performances at theatres and hotels in Sai Gon and southern provinces will be featured.

In 1900, the troupe performed Indochina Dance in Paris with famous French ballet dancer Cleo de Merode.

The film will combine the past and the present with its background set in My Tho, Paris and Marseilles.

Taking part in the production of the film will be Nguyen Le Tuyen, who lectures at Australian National University, Prof Yves Defrance of Rennes University in Paris and filmmaker Huy Moeller from the Saigon International Cinematography School.

The book on classical opera, traditional music and renovated theatre from the late 19th century to the early 20th century was written by Nguyen Le Tuyen and music researcher Nguyen Duc Hiep of Australia.

It will be published by Phuong Nam Book Company next month, according to the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Tai tu, a traditional southern music genre, developed from court music after blending with local folk music forms, and has long been seen as part of the Mekong Delta's cultural identity. —VNS