HCM CITY — More than 300 artists from 24 tài tử music groups from cultural houses in HCM City are taking part in the Tài Tử Music Festival, which opened last night.

The musicians are presenting solo, duo and group singing and instrumental performances at the five-day event.

They will sing vọng cổ (traditional tunes) and cải lương (reformed opera) excerpts about love, praise of the country, Uncle Hồ and national heroes, achievements in nation-building and Vietnamese culture and people.

Meanwhile, musicians will play traditional instruments, including kìm (two-stringed guitar), cò (vertical violin with two strings), tranh (16-chord zither) and bầu (monochord zither).

The organisers will award special prizes to young talented artists, best performer, music player and composer.

Tài tử traditional music originated in southern Việt Nam 100 years ago.

It is the prototype for vọng cổ and cải lương, which is often presented during festivals and special occasions in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bạc Liêu, Cần Thơ and Vĩnh Long.

The music is performed at traditional festivals, weddings and death anniversaries in the Mekong River Delta provinces of Cần Thơ, Sóc Trăng, Cà Mau and Bạc Liêu.

In 2013, the music was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The HCM City Tài Tử Music Festival is organised by the city’s Cultural Centre to celebrate the gathering of veteran artists, young talents, music researchers and fans of tài tử music.

All performances during the festival take place at 6 pm daily at the centre, 97 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street, in District 1. — VNS