(VOVworld) – Hello and welcome to the Sunday show on the Voice of Vietnam, where we talk about Vietnam, its land and culture. I’m ………., your host for today’s show, which I hope you’ll enjoy. Viet Nam is home to 54 ethnic groups, each with its own customs and traditions. Those groups have created a variety of traditional musical instruments, which have played an important role in Vietnamese people’s lives. The many types of musical instruments found in Vietnam include “monochord zither”, “moon-shaped two-string lute”, and “pear-shaped lute with four strings”. One of the best-known musical instruments is the Đàn Tranh or 16-string Zither. Dan Tranh is considered the “princess” of the Vietnam’s traditional plucked string instruments (Source: Viettourism.com) Culture researcher and composer Thao Giang, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Traditional Music Development Center, who has studied Vietnamese folk music for 40 years, told us: “The Vietnamese 16-String Zither is considered the “Princess” of Vietnam’s traditional plucked string instruments. Its beautiful sound beguiles everyone. The Zither can be played as a solo instrument or accompanied by other instruments in many traditional orchestras, including Tuong (a classical theater form), Cheo (popular theater), Cai Luong (reformed theater), Nha Nhac (court music orchestra), Chau Van (ceremonial singing), religious music, and Don Ca Tai Tu (southern amateur singing), and even accompanies poetry recitals.” As the zither has 16 strings, people in the north and central parts of Viet Nam call it “Thập Lục” (thập means ten; lục means six), whereas the name “Đàn Tranh”…
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