A 60-minute Nha nhac (court music) programme from the formerly imperial city of Hue is set to tour European cities for close to seven weeks.
Hue Royal Art Theatre recently began the tour that will travel to municipalities in France, Belgium and Switzerland by the time the schedule is wrapped up on August 26.
Nha nhac has seen increasing prominence on the world's stages after being recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003.
Otherwise refereed to as the "elegant music” it was originally found in the court's of royalty and reserved for annual ceremonies and special events such as coronations, funerals, and official receptions.
Although its roots can be traced to the 13th century, nha nhac reached its zenith in Hue’s royal court under the Nguyen Dynasty. The kings favoured nha nhac to the point of making it the official music of the court, thereby establishing it as a symbol of the dynasty's power and longevity.
Rich in spiritual content, nha nhac not only provided a means of communicating with and paying tribute to the gods and kings, but also served as a vehicle for transmitting aspects of Vietnamese philosophy and cosmogony.
(Source: VNA) |
