The "Returning to Kinh Bac" performance, held at the Hong Ha Theater ( Hanoi ) on April 27th, marks the beginning of this new journey.
The Thien Thanh folk music group performs with cellist Bryan Charles Wilson (far right).
Having received training in traditional music at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, and subsequently pursuing advanced studies at the Amsterdam Conservatory and the Royal Academy of Music in The Hague (Netherlands), artist Ngo Hong Quang has chosen a path of independent composition and performance over the years, traveling the world to promote Vietnamese folk music and learn from his colleagues in other countries how to preserve and develop traditional art forms.
With his exceptional talent and technique in singing and playing traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as the two-stringed fiddle (nhị), zither (đàn bầu), K'ny lute (đàn K'ny), mouth harp (đàn môi), and zither (đàn tính), artist Ngô Hồng Quang has performed in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide , participating in music festivals and seminars to share Vietnamese musical culture with friends from around the globe. He has also collaborated with talented domestic and international artists to release valuable musical products such as "Hanoi Duo" - a collaboration with artist Nguyên Lê, "Nam Nhi" - an album combining Quan Họ folk music and Western music, "Nhìn lại" and "Song hành" - combining electronic music with Vietnamese folk music, "Tình đàn" - a collaboration with artists from Senegal and Iran, and "Rạng Đông" - using ethnic music from mountainous regions with the participation of many international artists…
In 2023, artist Ngo Hong Quang decided to return to Vietnam to experience more deeply the contemporary music scene in his homeland. “I feel I have contributed in some way to promoting the image of the country's culture through music and I hope to expand these avenues to the next generation, especially young people pursuing traditional music,” artist Ngo Hong Quang expressed. Recognizing the lack of a modern environment for traditional music artists in Vietnam to work, compose, and perform, artist Ngo Hong Quang came up with the idea of forming a traditional music group consisting of young students or recent graduates to perform traditional music, creating a “new wave” for this valuable art form.
The Thien Thanh folk music group, founded and led by artist Ngo Hong Quang since late 2023, brings together 9 "Gen Z" artists: Nguyen Mai Ngoc (36-string zither), Dam Thai Ha (pipa), Nguyen Dinh Duc (two-stringed fiddle), Trinh Nhat Minh (bamboo lute), Le Thanh Xuan (bamboo flute, piccolo), Pham Van Anh (moon lute, folk singing), Chu Thuy Anh (zither), Nguyen Minh Hieu (percussion), and Nguyen Quoc Bao Khang (xam singing). These young artists are all professionally trained at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, the Military University of Culture and Arts, and the Viet Bac College of Culture and Arts, etc., so they quickly "clicked" with Ngo Hong Quang, a "modern-day traditional artist." The first program of this collaboration is "Returning to Kinh Bac."
According to artist Ngo Hong Quang, "Returning to Kinh Bac" is a program that spreads the pentatonic melodies of Quan Ho folk music and other folk music genres of the Northern Delta in a modern way. In this program, folk elements will be transformed not only in terms of harmony but also by exploring different rhythms, creating a new, youthful, and diverse musical space that suits contemporary aesthetics.
The program features 12 pieces, including "Trẩy hội" (drum ensemble), "Cây trúc xinh" (instrumental), "Còn duyên" (instrumental and vocals), "Lúng liếng" (instrumental), "Quyết chí tu thân" (xẩm singing), "Xe chỉ luồn kim" (instrumental), "Tình mẹ" (traditional Vietnamese singing), "Ngồi tựa mạn thuyền" (instrumental and vocals), "Mục hạ vô nhân" (xẩm singing), "Bèo dạt mây trôi" (instrumental with cello), "Thường xuân" (instrumental), and "Trống cơm" (vocal and instrumental), all newly arranged by artist Ngô Hồng Quang. The program also includes beatboxer Trung Bảo and American cellist Bryan Charles Wilson, aiming to create a musical space that is both local and youthful, with international influences.
Following this project, artist Ngo Hong Quang stated that he will continue working with the Thien Thanh music group on projects combining folk music from various regions of the country with contemporary music.
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