11 January 2013 - A concert with traditional Vietnamese bamboo instruments

A concert with traditional Vietnamese bamboo instruments
Folk artist Do Loc

On Friday, 11th January 2013, a concert was held at IGS. A number of traditional Vietnamese instruments made of bamboo were presented. The artist, Mr. Do Loc, born in 1948, studied at the Conservatory in Hanoi. For many years, he had made guest appearances in Vietnam, Japan, as well as in Europe, in Berlin, Moscow and Paris. He has received various awards for his artistic performances. In 1993, he was honored with the Vietnamese Order of Merit for Labor, class three.

Together with two other artists, among them his wife, Mr. Do Loc presented Vietnamese flutes, T'rung, Ank'lung, Dan Bau (Monocord) and Dan Nhi (an instrument with two strings), Tien Sinh (bamboo claves) and other instruments. Most of the instruments are made of bamboo. The artist played known Vietnamese folk songs and German folk songs. The sound of the instruments is unique and reminded the audience of the highlands, where members of national minorities in Vietnam live. After the presentation, Mr. Do Loc invited the children to try out the instruments themselves. The children enjoyed playing these ‘exotic’ instruments very much.

The children and the teachers at the IGS were deeply impressed by this brief but enjoyable concert. They gained an insight into the beauty and diversity of the Vietnamese folk music. Hopefully there will soon be another opportunity for the children and teachers at IGS to experience such an impressionable and yet educational concert.

by Duong Dinh Ba