Artists of the music night “Harmonic Quang Nam - Native Melody” took photos with the audience. Photo: Document |
Heritage space becomes a concert stage
Night falls, covering the Kazik statue with a thin layer of mist, occasionally interspersed with sudden spring raindrops, Bryan Charles Wilson's cello touches the quiet space like a drop of water awakening the surface of a lake. "Harmonic Quang Nam - Native Melody" opens not with a night of music, but with a whisper of culture, where Quang Nam folk songs transform into heavenly silk, intertwined with Western cello melodies in the dance of souls without borders.
Under the dim lantern light of the old town, next to the Kazik architect monument, Bryan Wilson's warm cello and the melodious sounds of the zither and the thirty-six stringed instrument create a multidimensional artistic space. Audiences from all over the world, from folk artists to young people who love modern music, all fell silent when "Inner Peace" was played. This is a piece that resonated at the United Nations in 2022. The sound of the cello flows like a stream through the quiet space, leading the listener on a meditative journey, where each note is an invitation to find inner peace.
As local artist Phan Duong’s graceful zither blends with the Western cello, the boundary between classical and contemporary seems to dissolve. This duet is a vivid testament to the message that runs through the entire night: Heritage is not for display, but needs to be told in the language of the new era.
The most special highlight of the concert was the innovation in experience design. The audience not only sat and enjoyed but also were invited to co-create. From the quiet moments of meditation with “Inner Peace”, to the vibrant chorus of “Spring Desire”, and the climax of “Ho Ba Li”, Cham folk songs and dances with the guidance of artist Kieu Maily drew most of the audience into the community dance. The tight hands, bright smiles and spontaneous dancing steps under the dim light of Hoi An turned the performance into a festival of connection.
Bryan Charles Wilson is an internationally renowned cellist, composer, educator and author from New Jersey, USA. Known as a cultural ambassador for the cello, Bryan blends the melodies of the cello with traditional Vietnamese music and diverse sounds from around the world, creating works that transcend genre boundaries, honoring heritage and innovation. In addition to his work as a composer and improviser for film, dance and animation, Bryan is the author of masterclasses and runs the Bryan Wilson Cello Studio, where he inspires students around the world. |
Melody of love and artistic integration
International cellist Bryan Wilson, with his stylized ao dai combined with hip-hop accessories, has become the embodiment of cultural exchange. He is not simply performing but leading a journey through space. He said: "When I play "Tri am", I feel the dialogue between the past and the present. My cello becomes a bridge for global stories".
The success of the music night “Harmonic Quang Nam - Local Melody” has opened up new signals for the journey to turn Hoi An into a diverse artistic destination. The event not only promotes heritage but also affirms the unlimited creativity of the local community. When folk artists perform together with international artists, they are writing a new manifesto: Heritage lives on thanks to knowing how to keep up with the times.
"I wrote "Inner peace" like the way Vietnamese people release flower lanterns, each note is a candle that lights up hope," American artist Bryan Wilson shared, his eyes filled with nostalgia about his 2019 performance with the Hoi An Symphony Orchestra. The music night was a marriage between things that seemed impossible to match: the Phan Duong monochord's melodious sound in the folk song "Ly Thuong Nhau" entwined with Bryan's cello like a pair of birds gliding in the sky. Not only the sound, the dances were truly vibrant when "Hava Nagila" rang out, pulling the audience into a circle of passionate dancing - Hoi An ao dai, Western dresses, and Cham brocade skirts. Dance therapist Bui Tuyet Minh smiled brightly: "When the melody of Ho Ba Li was played, I saw the heritage come alive through each person's feet, it was no longer a memory, but a breath."
The music night ended with the melody of Trinh Cong Son's song "Let's love each other", with artists and audience holding hands in a circle. Bryan Wilson bowed to the audience, his voice choked: "Hoi An taught me that music does not need translation, it only needs a heart that knows how to vibrate". In the flickering candlelight, a Hoi An zither artist shared: "Heritage is like a river, if it does not flow, it becomes a stagnant pond. Tonight, I see the Hoai River singing happily" "Harmonic Quang Nam - Native Melody" is not just a music night, it is a gentle reminder of a Hoi An that knows how to sing new lyrics with an ancient voice. Like the way Bryan Wilson arranged the cello rhythm with the folk song "Beo dat may troi", the heritage city is still writing the story of harmony between the past and the future.
The music night “Harmonic Quang Nam - Local Melodies” is a journey of cultural connection, honoring traditional values in the modern flow. Through each melody, the audience lives in a multidimensional musical space, where each note carries a message of harmony and love. The event affirms Hoi An’s position as not only a heritage city but also a destination for contemporary artistic values.
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Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5433/202503/am-nhac-khong-can-phien-dich-chi-can-trai-tim-biet-rung-dong-4002141/
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