HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese Art and Folk Music Development Centre opened the Folk Music Festival on August 7 on an open stage in Đồng Xuân Market, Hoàn Kiếm District. 

The festival will feature some 80 performances by individuals and folk music clubs in Hà Nội; HCM City and the northern provinces of Hòa Bình, Vĩnh Phúc, Hải Phòng and Bắc Giang, as well as Thái Bình and Hà Giang. 

The festival, with theme Hà Thành 36 Phố Phường (Hà Nội’s Old Quarter), is held to celebrate National Day on September 2 and Việt Nam Music Day on September 3. 

The festival will introduce popular and different folk music genres from localities, including ca trù (ceremonial singing), chèo (popular opera), trống quân singing and xẩm (blind busker), as well as hầu đồng performance and đờn ca tài tử (southern amateur singing).

Ca trù and hầu đồng were officially recognised by UNESCO as world intangible cultural heritages in 2009 and 2016. 

Ca trù originated in the 11th century, but it was not officially recorgnised as a form of entertainment for the royal court until the 13th century during the Lý Dynasty. Hầu đồng is a sacred yet joyful ritual within the Mother Goddess religion.

"The festival organisers will award prizes for the best performances. The semifinal round was held at the end of July, attracting more than 300 items," centre director -- traditional musician Thao Giang – said.

The festival will see one repertoire by each individual and three repertoires by artists from the clubs. The judge panel includes musician Thao Giang, artisan Phùng Thị Hồng, Meritorious artist Phạm Văn Ty and musician Vũ Trọng Tường. 

The festival will take place every Saturday night at 8pm and continue until September 2. — VNS