Unique music from ceramics

"GOm Show" is the first music program in Vietnam that centers around ceramics, both in terms of musical instruments and artistic inspiration.

This art project, combining indigenous music with innovative musical instruments crafted from ceramics, terracotta, bamboo, water, etc., will be performed on June 28th and 29th at the Hanoi Opera House and on July 19th at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House.

Sound from ceramics

The project, initiated by the "Dan Do" group of artists, draws inspiration from Vietnamese ceramic culture to create a musical space that is both distinctive and full of contemporary spirit.

The program utilizes unique musical instruments researched and crafted by the authors themselves, such as: the earthenware jar drum (using earthenware jars and inner tubes to create a super-low pitch like a giant bass guitar); the lang drum (shaped like a rice cake, producing a warm, deep sound like an echo from the earth); earthenware gongs and bells (creating sound from terracotta with a unique tonal structure, each a distinct sound); rotating pottery (resonating by rotating the pottery rim, creating a soft, resonant effect); and the clay pot instrument (a gentle sound emanating from an earthenware pot)...

Composer Vo Cong Anh - Head of the Composition Branch of the Vietnam Musicians Association in Ho Chi Minh City - commented: The name of the group "Dan Do" (The Lute) is a story deeply rooted in Vietnamese identity, reflecting the passion and respect for traditional values ​​of its members. The music of "Dan Do" is not merely a performance art, but also a journey of feeling, where indigenous Vietnamese culture is honored and reborn in the form of sound.

The artists will be performing at the “GOm Show”. (Photo provided by the featured artist)

According to artist Dinh Anh Tuan, "GOm Show" will include performances with titles such as: "Returning Home," "That Time," "Downstream," "Finding Hani," etc., taking viewers on a journey through indigenous cultural regions such as Northwest Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and South Central Vietnam, with the unique voices of the M'nong, Ede, Ha Nhi, and Lo Lo ethnic groups.

Combining innovative instruments, folk and modern sounds, "GOm Show" takes the audience into a world rich in sensation – where layers of sound awaken the imagination, evoke cultural memories, in a diverse yet unified sound-cultural space reflecting the Vietnamese spirit. Artist Dinh Anh Tuan believes that the Vietnamese music market has many attractive elements for international audiences, and the diverse folk music material is a highlight of Vietnamese indigenous music.

"We use music to tell the historical story of pottery, which is also the story of national memory, through a symbolic method, allowing viewers to expand their perception and imagination. 'GOm Show' is born from the spirit and love for the local culture of the artists," shared artist Dinh Anh Tuan.

Bringing Vietnamese music to the world.

The "GOm Show" project marks the intersection of two generations of artists - the older generation and the younger generation - together creating a diverse musical space featuring artists such as Duong Men, Le Duy, Nguyen Tra Huong, Nguyen Tra Giang, Dam Van Huy, Quoc Thinh, and Quynh Mai…

"GOm Show" is a journey to find 10 members to create a complete show. During the working process, the group of artists explored how to use each new instrument. The 10 artists come from all over the country," said artist Dinh Anh Tuan.

Young artist Duong Men said she was very excited because, whereas before she only needed to play according to pre-composed music and ensure accuracy in every performance, in "GOm Show" she needs to listen to her fellow performers, everyone must listen to each other and rely on each other to create continuously, creating throughout the entire process of composition and rehearsal.

"As one of the young artists of 'GOm Show,' I am proud that my work is contributing to reviving local values ​​and bringing a new approach to the audience," shared artist Duong Men.

The aspiration of the "Dan Do" group is to bring Vietnamese indigenous music to the world. The artists hope that these simple yet profound melodies can touch the hearts of humanity as a sincere and unique voice of Vietnam on the global cultural map.

"We will build an ecosystem of indigenous music – creating a sound experience space connected to local culture but with international appeal and stature. Gradually bringing artistic products and programs to the global market, exporting indigenous culture…" - Mr. Tuan Anh, representative of the "Dan Do" group, informed.

"Dan Do" is an independent group of artists founded in Hanoi in 2011, consisting of four members: Dinh Anh Tuan, Nguyen Duc Minh, Nguyen Quang Su, and Tran Kim Ngoc. The members met while participating in the art project "My Village Circus"—a circus program combining traditional Vietnamese art that toured Europe from 2009 to 2012. This artistic connection became the foundation for the formation of the "Dan Do" group.

One of the group's unique achievements is the creation of the "Dan Do" musical instrument set – a collection of instruments crafted from rustic materials such as bamboo, earth, and water. With this distinctive set of instruments, "Dan Do" has participated in many notable art projects such as: SEA Sound - Southeast Asian Indigenous Orchestra, and performances like "Chem Gio Concert," "Loi Cua Tre," "Xuyen Khong," etc., which have been well-received by a wide audience.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/doc-dao-am-nhac-tu-gom-196250623201035056.htm