The resonant sound of the bầu lute, releasing delicate notes that blend with the sounds of the flute, tranh zither, nhị, tam thập lục... leading listeners into an artistic space imbued with the essence of the ancient capital of Hue .

A performance at the "Four Seasons' Colors and Fragrances" show.

With its rich history and cultural traditions, Hue has long been a melting pot of various musical genres: from the elegant and majestic sounds of royal court music, the profound depth of religious beliefs, to the simple and rustic charm of folk songs and melodies. But how can these original values ​​be brought from traditional performance spaces to a modern stage while still preserving the distinctive melodies of genres like Nam Ai, Nam Binh, Luu Thuy, and Kim Tien? This is a difficult problem both academically and in terms of performance.

"The Fragrance of Four Seasons" was born from the very concerns of those involved in training at the Traditional Music Department of the Vietnam National Academy of Music. More than just a performance celebrating the Academy's 70th anniversary, the concert also served as a practical presentation, where long-standing cultural values ​​flow through the lens and mindset of the succeeding generation.

What gave the performance its weight wasn't its scale or splendor, but rather the self-reliance of the young "torchbearers." Nearly 20 performances on stage were organized and executed by students from the Hue-style Orchestra Practice Classes 4/6 and 2/4, as well as university students from University 2. They independently conceived the scripts, selected the pieces, and wrote the new orchestral arrangements themselves.

Recalling the period of "conception" for the work, Tran Cat Tien (a student in University Class 2, majoring in the zither) confided: "For three months straight, we debated extensively about how to divide the parts and harmonize them to have a fresh, modern feel while not altering the essence of Hue music . Some sections were rearranged many times before we were satisfied. It was a huge challenge, but when the work was completed, the feeling of pride was indescribable."

This proactive approach is not only about honing stage presence, but more profoundly, it is the most humane way to educate young people to appreciate and be responsible for their national culture. Watching her students perform, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoa Dang, People's Artist and Deputy Head of the Traditional Music Department, couldn't hide her emotion: “Teachers are just observers and guides. Seeing the students meticulously care for everything from the musical scores to the performance costumes, being careful with each melody of their ancestors, we know that the stream of heritage is still being passed on in the right direction.”

There was a quiet but heartwarming detail: the entire program was free of charge. In an era where entertainment is paramount and commercialized, the sight of hundreds of audience members, from the elderly to young people, filling the auditorium to listen to traditional musical instruments is a beautiful image. It is a pure expression of gratitude that the teachers and students of the Traditional Music Department want to convey to the community, bringing classical art out of its ivory tower to touch the diverse corners of life.

As the performance concluded, the lingering echoes of the folk songs and melodies seemed to remain. Programs like "Four Seasons' Colors and Scents" don't create a sensational, fleeting phenomenon. It is the perseverance and dedication of the teachers and students behind the scenes that are daily building a new layer of cultural heritage. They prove that preserving heritage doesn't necessarily mean storing it in a glass case, but rather giving it a new life, allowing it to be expressed with the very breath of the times.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/thanh-am-co-do-qua-nhung-ngon-dan-tre-1039178