The Hanoi Collective Orchestra 2016 - part of the Ensembles Asia Orchestra was recently held in Hanoi with the aim of uncovering new and unprecedented ways of making musical instruments, bringing together young people and helping them to get closer to music.
The impromptu orchestra drew much attention from both Vietnamese youths and Japanese who are living and working in Hanoi.
At the event, the participants were keen on making musical instruments from bowls, chopsticks, plastic bottles and cans. Each of these materials can make distinctive sounds. For instance, they, with their creativeness, turned waste plastic pipes into flutes with sweet melodies. Also, they had a chance to perform with famous musical artists like musician Otomo Yoshihide and sound artist Suzuki Akio, and could try to conduct an orchestra on the stage.
Evaluating the participants’ ability of making and performing on musical instruments, Otomo Yoshihide said: “I have attended many music programs in Japan, Australia and Thailand and now this event in Vietnam. I realise that Vietnamese youth are very creative and good at playing musical instruments. Each country has distinctive cultural features so I learn more about Vietnam when performing with the orchestra”.
According to Director of the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam Ando Toshiki, the Ensembles Asia Orchestra is an art project that was launched in 2014 by the Japan Foundation with the aim of creating a free-form orchestra that engages with people who are not professional musicians. The project has helped people from different nations to connect and share the joy of creating musical instruments from objects and materials used in daily life.
At the event, the participants were keen on making musical instruments from bowls, chopsticks, plastic bottles and cans. Each of these materials can make distinctive sounds. For instance, they, with their creativeness, turned waste plastic pipes into flutes with sweet melodies. Also, they had a chance to perform with famous musical artists like musician Otomo Yoshihide and sound artist Suzuki Akio, and could try to conduct an orchestra on the stage.
Evaluating the participants’ ability of making and performing on musical instruments, Otomo Yoshihide said: “I have attended many music programs in Japan, Australia and Thailand and now this event in Vietnam. I realise that Vietnamese youth are very creative and good at playing musical instruments. Each country has distinctive cultural features so I learn more about Vietnam when performing with the orchestra”.
 Children are interested in making musical instruments from scrapts.  Decorating their muscial instruments.  A new musical instrument made from a beer bottle and a hanger.  From two buckets, youngsters make a unique musical instrument.  Youngsters passionately create their works.  Impromptu moments of youngsters with their music instruments.  The viewers and artists perform together on musical instruments.  An instrument made from cans.  The project has helped people from different nations to connect and share the joy of creating musical instruments from objects and materials used in daily life.  A combination of straws and pottery bowls.  As the conductor of the orchestra, artist Otomo Yoshihide makes the program more exciting.  The Hanoi Collective Orchestra draws a large number of youngsters.  The participations and artists pose for a photo at the end of the orchestra. |
According to Director of the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam Ando Toshiki, the Ensembles Asia Orchestra is an art project that was launched in 2014 by the Japan Foundation with the aim of creating a free-form orchestra that engages with people who are not professional musicians. The project has helped people from different nations to connect and share the joy of creating musical instruments from objects and materials used in daily life.
Story: Ngan Ha - Photos: Khanh Long
