Experts from Vietnam and countries like Japan, Cyprus, and Germany gathered in Ho Chi Minh City Sunday for a three-day conference to discuss acquisition of world culture heritage status for southern folk music.
The three-day “Đờn ca tài tử art and improvisation ensemble styles” is being organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism since all five of Vietnam’s UNESCO intangible cultural heritages now are from the northern and central areas.
Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh, dissatisfied with the situation, said this “falls short of representing the rich cultural history and stature of the south, where unique cultural values were created and passed on.”
“Đờn ca tài tử” will be submitted for UNESCO recognition in March.
The music, dating back to the 19th century, is very popular in the Mekong Delta and is said to convey the philosophy, soul, and heart of the region’s inhabitants.
Ngo Van Thanh, director of the Vietnam Institute for Musicology and folk music expert, said the conference is “an important activity in developing a complete national file for Đờn ca tài tử to be recognized as a UNESCO heritage.”
The Institute is co-hosting the event along with the National Cultural Heritage Department and the city’s Culture, Sport, Tourism Department.
Clip: Tam Nam: Nam Xuan - Nam Ai - Nam Dao
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