Search - Various Artists :: The Music of Vietnam 3 CD Boxed Set

Volumes 1.1 and 1.2 concentrate on an ensemble of 15 musicians who are among the most respected in Vietnam. They are professors at the conservatories and well-known artists and performers. They present modern "folk" music on traditional and adapted instruments; lutes, one string fiddles, flutes, and percussion dominate the tracks presented, with solo pieces and soloists backed by larger ensembles. Most are theatrical works, carefully arranged and presented, rather than raw field recordings. The western influences are subtle but obvious throughout. One of the standout sounds of Volume 1.1 is the dan bau and an electric cousin. It's a single string attached to a soundboard and a flexible neck. The neck is pulled to create the notes and a glissandi ornamentation, giving the distinct feeling of a slide guitar playing some ancient precursor to the blues. Volume 2 is a major undertaking--one of the few high quality recordings made of the Imperial ceremonial music of the ancient city of Hue. It is a distinctive mix of folk instruments and courtly formality--a highly disciplined and richly ornamented music originally conceived for moments of importance and ceremony. The focus is on the voices and the stories they tell. David Parsons went to Hanoi and Hue to record the music for this set, and he created excellent ambiance as well as choosing wonderful artists and musical selections. Each of the three CDs is also available separately. --Louis Gibson