Artist Dinh Van Hoa

Although not born into a family with an artistic tradition, Dinh Van Hoa’s father is a lover of the monochord. He confided: “My father taught me from a young age, so when I was 7 or 8 years old, I already knew how to play the monochord and participated in performing the monochord in school cultural events and local mass festivals.”

The sound of the monochord is increasingly attractive and captivating to Dinh Van Hoa. After finishing grade 9, he was selected to study at Hue College of Culture and Arts. Leaving his hometown of Quang Binh, the young man went to Hue to receive formal training to develop his talent and satisfy his passion. After graduating from college, he continued his university studies at Hue Academy of Music. In 2013, Hoa returned to teach the monochord at Hue College of Culture and Arts with the desire to convey and spread the love of this traditional musical instrument to the younger generations.

The monochord is a unique musical instrument, with only one string, no frets, using the neck to create different high and low pitches. In addition to the basic techniques, the player needs other techniques such as: using the fingers to strum, two-way plucking techniques, pressing difficult intervals... To create many levels of emotion, the artist must be delicate and skillful in each finger: gliding, tapping, stroking, vibrating, swaying... According to Dinh Van Hoa, to achieve technical virtuosity, the artist must go through a process of continuous practice, putting his soul into each tone and melody, not simply using his hands but with all his soul...

Passionate and dedicated, artist Dinh Van Hoa's monochord has resounded on many large and small stages at home and abroad, performing in many programs serving political tasks and festivals. At the end of 2017, he participated in the cultural cooperation program between the Governments of Vietnam and Korea, a 6-month tour in Korea with many large orchestras. With his professional playing skills, artist Dinh Van Hoa has successfully performed chamber songs, instrumental music, Vietnamese folk songs, and remixed songs familiar to young people. The melodious tones and lingering sounds when performing songs such as Dat nuoc loi ru, Dang dung Ben Tre, Tinh dat do mien Dong, Nho Hue... Dinh Van Hoa's monochord has vibrated and awakened the love for the homeland and life in the hearts of those who enjoy it. In addition, for many years now, he and the folk music group Am Sac Viet have performed traditional music and successfully presented many new harmonies and arrangements to bring folk instruments closer to a wider audience.

Skillfully transforming into many works of art performing the monochord on stage, in the role of a teacher, Dinh Van Hoa puts his heart and soul into each lesson. With his in-depth knowledge and 12 years of teaching experience, he has imparted to his students professional knowledge on how to use the monochord, igniting the passion for this traditional national art form for many young people. Teacher Hoa confided: “The monochord is not only used in traditional and ancient music genres, but it can also be used in modern and young music genres. To attract students, in addition to traditional national music, I always research and create to bring students new and suitable knowledge and ways to play the monochord… thereby motivating young people to love and stick with this musical instrument imbued with national identity”.

In today's vibrant life, the artist still tirelessly pursues the traditional art form, contributing to preserving and spreading the national cultural values, which is something to be cherished. Through many ups and downs, for Dinh Van Hoa, the monochord has become his blood and flesh, his friend, his life.

Through hard work and constant learning to achieve a level of sophistication and virtuosity in his playing, artist Dinh Van Hoa has affirmed his name with outstanding achievements: Gold Medal for solo performance of the monochord with the song Niem tin tat thang (composed by Khac Chi) at the National Solo and Ensemble Festival of Traditional Musical Instruments held in Thanh Hoa in 2017; First Prize for solo performance of the monochord with the two works Lan dieu phu luc "Ca Hue" and Nho Hue (composed by Ba Que) with new arrangements by musician Bui Viet Hong at the National Solo and Ensemble Competition of Traditional Musical Instruments in 2023 held in Nha Trang. Also in 2023, he was honored as a typical artist in the field of performing arts nationwide.

Tran Van Toan