Recently, an art program with the theme "Echoes of Bamboo and Silk Melodies" took place at the Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Center at No. 50 Dao Duy Tu street. This was a series of musical performances introducing domestic and international visitors to the ancient and contemporary music of Thang Long - Hanoi.

The program was created by artists from the Dong Kinh Co Nhac group in 2013 and was introduced to the international community in 2014 at the concert hall of the Asian Civilizations Museum, Musée Guimet Paris, and through the airwaves of the France Music Radio Station.

Traditional art forms such as Cheo singing, Xam singing and Ca Tru singing, were presented in a simple manner. The artists and musicians sat humbly, playing their instruments and singing without the need for audio equipment such as microphones or speakers. It was this simplicity that provided a better experience for the audience. The program "Echoes of Bamboo and Silk Melodies" is a harmonious blend that connects the essence of traditional music that has been and is still present in the thousand-year-old history of the capital, along with the participation of many famous Vietnamese artists in various traditional stage arts like Cheo, Ca Tru, Xam and Tuong.

It also includes Vietnamese traditional musicians like People's Artist Man Thu, People's Artist Thanh Hoai, People's Artist Minh Gai, People's Artist Thuy Ngan, People's Artist Xuan Hoach, People's Artist Hong Kien, Meritorious Artist Kieu Oanh, Meritorious Artist Van Chinh, Meritorious Artist Huu Dat, Meritorious Artist Xuan Quy and Meritorious Artist Duc Muoi.

The artists led the audience on a journey of music, immersing them in the profound thousand-year history of Vietnamese traditional music. Bamboo and silk are not only materials but also the spirit of traditional Vietnamese music. Many musical instruments are made from bamboo, while silk is used for guitar strings. Bamboo represents the image of a virtuous man, and silk symbolizes the fate of a woman. The phrase "bamboo and silk" signifies connection and harmony.

Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital with a rich, diverse, unique, and characteristic musical heritage, was vividly portrayed in the program "Echoes of Bamboo and Silk Melodies," conveying to both local and foreign audiences the beautiful cultural impressions of the Vietnamese people, civilization, and history.

The event "Echoes of Bamboo and Silk Melodies" took place at the Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Center at No. 50 Dao Duy Tu street. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

In this program, the artists and musicians sat on straw mats, played traditional instruments, and sang naturally without the use of sound-enhancing equipment like speakers or amplifiers. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

The traditional art of Cheo singing performed authentically during the program. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

Excerpt from the Tuong play "Ong gia cong vo tre di xem hoi" (An old man carries his young wife to watch the festival). Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

Ca Tru singing is being revived by artists during the performance. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

People’s Artist Thanh Hoai immerses herself in a Cheo performance. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

People’s Artist Minh Gai performs in a scene from the Tuong play "Nguyet Co turns into a fox". Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

The artists during the performance took the audience through a wide range of emotions from various traditional art forms. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

Artists interacting with the audience during the event. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

The artists during the performance took the audience through a wide range of emotions from various traditional art forms. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP