The Asia-Europe New Music Festival opened in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay onOctober 8, its first time in an Asian country. The event will end onOctober 12.
Do Hong Quan, head of the organisation's board andchairman of the Vietnam Musicians' Association, spoke to Vietnam Newsabout the event.
*Could you tell us a bit about the festival, and why Vietnam is the first Asian country to host it?
Theprestigious music festival was created by the Union of Composers ofRussia and Tatarstan in 1993. The biennial festival draws participantsfrom Asia and Europe. Vietnam took part in the festival in 2011 and2013.
I was invited to attend the 11th festival in 2013 as acomposer and chairman of the Vietnam Musicians' Association. I took atraditional music troupe to the festival, and this was the first timethe Vietnamese monochord (dan bau) had been heard there.
Then, the festival founders approved my proposition to hold the festival in Vietnam.
*What are the criteria to perform at the festival? And how do Vietnamese musicians prepare?
Therequirements are that the compositions must be new and show themusician's typical style. Vietnamese musical works are composed byartists with a wide range of styles, from classical to contemporary andimprovisation.
They include the symphony Rendezvous by NguyenThien Dao, the oratorio Chieu Doi Do (Royal Proclamation on Moving theCapital) by Doan Nho and Nhung O Cua (Windows) by Trong Dai.
Ialso want to stress that young musicians will perform in the VietnamNational Academy of Music's concert hall at 10am on October 9. They aretalented, and are just discovering their own styles. But all of themhave works that show their traditional roots. I think these musicianswill develop Vietnamese classical music.
*How do Vietnamese musicians benefit when their association hosts an international festival?
Vietnamis on its way to developing a comprehensive music scene, from classicalto pop music. Since the late 1950s, it has sent people to study musicat conservatories in Moscow, Sofia, Leipzig and Beijing. These musicianslaid the foundation for Vietnamese classical music.
Since then,Vietnam has had four generations of professional classical composers.They are composing high quality musical works that they can confidentlyintroduce to international musicians.
The festival will create adialogue between Vietnamese classical musicians and those from othercountries. It is a chance for all to play, enjoy and value the newcompositions.
The musicians will hear different musical trends,as well as know more about the diverse methods used to createcontemporary music. It is very important, because non-stop creativity isa skill all musicians possess.
If the Vietnamese performancesgo over well, musicians will be given more opportunities to work withtheir international colleagues.
*How are Asian and European skills exchanged at the festival?
Themusicians must have a profound knowledge of how instruments functionand follow new achievements in music around the world. They have to bemasters of the orchestra. Music is an innovative science for both Asianand European musicians. Through the melodies and notes, people canunderstand each other and the history of different nationalities.
*A seminar will be held on October 8-9. What will it focus on?
Theseminar will focus on musical compositions. Participants from thePhilippines, Russia, France, Norway and Vietnam will make presentations.
*How many international musicians are attending the festival?
There are 51 musicians and performing artists. For most, it is their first visit to Vietnam.
Manymusicians expressed a desire to hear more Vietnamese music. I think thefestival will help them learn that Vietnam is not only a beautiful andopen country, but also a place for classical music./.
Do Hong Quan, head of the organisation's board andchairman of the Vietnam Musicians' Association, spoke to Vietnam Newsabout the event.
*Could you tell us a bit about the festival, and why Vietnam is the first Asian country to host it?
Theprestigious music festival was created by the Union of Composers ofRussia and Tatarstan in 1993. The biennial festival draws participantsfrom Asia and Europe. Vietnam took part in the festival in 2011 and2013.
I was invited to attend the 11th festival in 2013 as acomposer and chairman of the Vietnam Musicians' Association. I took atraditional music troupe to the festival, and this was the first timethe Vietnamese monochord (dan bau) had been heard there.
Then, the festival founders approved my proposition to hold the festival in Vietnam.
*What are the criteria to perform at the festival? And how do Vietnamese musicians prepare?
Therequirements are that the compositions must be new and show themusician's typical style. Vietnamese musical works are composed byartists with a wide range of styles, from classical to contemporary andimprovisation.
They include the symphony Rendezvous by NguyenThien Dao, the oratorio Chieu Doi Do (Royal Proclamation on Moving theCapital) by Doan Nho and Nhung O Cua (Windows) by Trong Dai.
Ialso want to stress that young musicians will perform in the VietnamNational Academy of Music's concert hall at 10am on October 9. They aretalented, and are just discovering their own styles. But all of themhave works that show their traditional roots. I think these musicianswill develop Vietnamese classical music.
*How do Vietnamese musicians benefit when their association hosts an international festival?
Vietnamis on its way to developing a comprehensive music scene, from classicalto pop music. Since the late 1950s, it has sent people to study musicat conservatories in Moscow, Sofia, Leipzig and Beijing. These musicianslaid the foundation for Vietnamese classical music.
Since then,Vietnam has had four generations of professional classical composers.They are composing high quality musical works that they can confidentlyintroduce to international musicians.
The festival will create adialogue between Vietnamese classical musicians and those from othercountries. It is a chance for all to play, enjoy and value the newcompositions.
The musicians will hear different musical trends,as well as know more about the diverse methods used to createcontemporary music. It is very important, because non-stop creativity isa skill all musicians possess.
If the Vietnamese performancesgo over well, musicians will be given more opportunities to work withtheir international colleagues.
*How are Asian and European skills exchanged at the festival?
Themusicians must have a profound knowledge of how instruments functionand follow new achievements in music around the world. They have to bemasters of the orchestra. Music is an innovative science for both Asianand European musicians. Through the melodies and notes, people canunderstand each other and the history of different nationalities.
*A seminar will be held on October 8-9. What will it focus on?
Theseminar will focus on musical compositions. Participants from thePhilippines, Russia, France, Norway and Vietnam will make presentations.
*How many international musicians are attending the festival?
There are 51 musicians and performing artists. For most, it is their first visit to Vietnam.
Manymusicians expressed a desire to hear more Vietnamese music. I think thefestival will help them learn that Vietnam is not only a beautiful andopen country, but also a place for classical music./.
