HÀ NỘI — A special performance to celebrate Vietnamese Music Day, September 3, will be organised by the Việt Nam’s Association of Composers.

Taking place on August 31 at the Âu Cơ Art Centre in Hà Nội from 9am, the concert, entitled Hát Lên Việt Nam (Let’s Sing, Việt Nam) will feature a diversified repertoire.

“The first part will be dedicated to Vietnamese traditional music genres which is a solid foundation and boundless inspiration for the development of Vietnamese music later on,” said Deputy Chairman of the Việt Nam’s Association of Musicians, People’s Artist, composer Ngọc Khôi.

The artist said the second part will present classical chamber music, while the third part will be for compositions by young composers.

The concert will be livestreamed on the Facebook page of the association and of the Military University of Culture and Arts.

On September 3, 1960, President Hồ Chí Minh conducted an orchestra, a choir, and people in Hà Nội to perform the song Bài Ca Kết Đoàn (The Song of Solidarity), celebrating the 15th anniversary of the founding of Democratic Republic of Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Lâm Hồng Long

According to Chairman of the Việt Nam’s Association of Musicians, composer Đức Trịnh, alongside the concert Hát Lên Việt Nam, several other art performances will also be held in cities and provinces across the country on Vietnamese Music Day.

In addition, there are also meetings and exchanges to introduce composers and their works, aiming to praise outstanding artists and encourage them to promote the traditional values of Vietnamese music.

First held in 2010, the annual Vietnamese Music Day has affirmed the importance of Vietnamese music in the revolutionary cause, as well as in people’s lives. The event not only is to honour the contribution of musicians, but also to promote the traditional and revolutionary values of Vietnamese music, at the same time educate the young generation and offer the public an optimistic spirit.

The idea that led to the birth of Vietnamese Music Day came from September 3, 1960, when President Hồ Chí Minh conducted an orchestra, a choir, and people in Hà Nội to perform the song Bài Ca Kết Đoàn (The Song of Solidarity), celebrating the 15th anniversary of the founding of Democratic Republic of Việt Nam at the Botanical Garden in the capital city.

The event was also known widely thanks to the black-and-white photo Uncle Hồ Catches the Rhythm of the Song of Solidarity taken by late photojournalist Lâm Hồng Long of the Vietnam News Agency. The famous photo then was granted the Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Art.

On September 26, 2014, the then Prime Minister issued a decision to take September 3 every year as Vietnamese Music Day with an aim to encourage the artists in music to promote the traditional and revolutionary values of Vietnamese music, creating good works and meaningful musical activities for the public.

This can contribute to the education of young generation, and cheer the nation’s solidarity. The day also aims to call on all classes of society to join and develop Vietnamese music. — VNS