Gong Night - Central Highlands cultural inspiration from epic to contemporary

The music event “Gong Night” is a combination of research, learning and artistic creation, marking the discovery and innovation of traditional values through a contemporary lens.

Taking place on March 30, 2025, the musical event is a tribute and deep gratitude for the 20-year journey of humanity heritage of the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space.

IU ArTeam rocked the GONG NIGHT stage with their own captivating and powerful movement language.

In the joyful atmosphere celebrating the 94th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the musical event emphasized the role of the young generation in the journey of preserving, maintaining and promoting the traditional cultural values of the nation in the present and the future.

The moment the T'rung zither resonates, the zither beats and the bamboo flute resonates throughout the space.

The program is built like a film of time, starting from traditional values at the center, gradually growing and blending into the rhythm and breath of modern life.

Singer Y Kroc performs at the concert.

The music event “Gong Night” is not just a simple performance night, but also a space for spreading and connecting art, contributing to introducing the beautiful identities of ethnic minorities in particular and the Vietnamese people in general to future generations of the country.

The music event “Gong Night” hopes to bring viewers back to the old days, when gongs were considered a gateway to communicate with the gods, until those values penetrated every corner of life, touching the consciousness of the current generation.

The moment the T'rung zither resonates, the zither beats and the bamboo flute resonates throughout the space.

In the strong development wave of digital technology , along with a deep love for the homeland's heritage, two members of the group and their teammates applied fire-lighting technology to 40 ancient gong music pieces and 3D modeled 10 gong models, turning UNESCO heritage into a digital symphony full of youthfulness and national love.

DIGITALIZED SET OF 40 ANCIENT GONG SONGS

With the consent of music researcher Bui Trong Hien and his colleagues, the gong coordinates project has accessed a collection of ancient gong pieces from 9 ethnic minorities, spread across 5 provinces of the Central Highlands from 2004 to 2011. From here, the members have applied technological developments, digitized and released this collection on the project's official website.

Young people participate in the Young City event (Creative Park, Thu Thiem, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City).

Nine ethnic minorities including: Xo Dang, Brau, Jrai, Bahnar, Ede K'pah, Ede Bih, M'nong Prâng, Chu Ru and Ma are the subjects of research and digitalization of sounds from ancient gong performances.

GONG MODEL DIGITALIZATION

In terms of images, in order to provide a visual and multi-dimensional view of the gong sets, the group has made 10 3D gong models inspired by 5 ancient gong sets currently on display at the Gia Lai Provincial Museum and the Dak Lak Provincial Museum, along with information from press sources. Making 3D models helps young people and the public to access the gong sets anytime, anywhere without having to travel to the place of ownership.

The student group Researching and Implementing the Graduation Project on the Cultural Space of the Central Highlands Gongs includes 4 final year students majoring in Multimedia Management at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City.

A group of 4 students from FPT University carried out the Gong Coordinates project.

A group of 4 students from FPT University carried out the project "Gong Coordinates".

Throughout the process of studying, researching and implementing the project, the group always aims at the core goal: To learn, preserve and promote the heritage of the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space ; to spread the value, meaning and create excitement to the community, especially the young generation .

Student Trao Nhat Hang (left cover) introduces a communication project at an event of FPT University Ho Chi Minh City.

The music event “Gong Night” with the support of Young City Festival and Thu Duc City Youth Union, is the crystallization of achievements from research and creative activities from September 2024 to present.

Project on communication and artistic creation applying digital technology in preserving and maintaining elements of the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space.

Young people participate in the Young City event (Creative Park, Thu Thiem, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City).

The project contributes to spreading and raising interest among young people and the community about the Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space from ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands provinces through interactive activities and visual experiences along with a unique communication campaign.

The project hopes to reach young people through modern and familiar materials, thereby shortening the distance between young people and traditional values, encouraging young people's interest and learning about this unique intangible heritage of humanity.