HÀ NỘI — An exhibition entitled Let the Whole World Rejoice to introduce Hungarian musician Zoltan Kodaly opened at the National Library of Việt Nam yesterday.

The exhibition is co-held by the Hungarian embassy in Hà Nội and the National Library of Việt Nam featuring posters introducing the musician Kodaly’s works and life. The exhibition is a rare chance for local people to learn more about one of the most outstanding Hungarian personalities of the 20th century.

"Kodaly was a great son of Hungary who made his remarkable contribution to the great foundation of Hungarian music, and a teacher who is admired by music lovers and learners in Viet Nam and in the world for bringing the Kodaly method to music training and education," Nguyễn Ngọc Anh, the library’s deputy director said at the exhibition opening ceremony yesterday. 

Kodaly (1882-1967) was a composer, ethnomusicologist, music pedagogue and linguist. His internationally acknowledged concept of music education is the basis for general music teaching in Hungary and also plays an important role in the training of professional musicians.

His ideas on music education are usually mentioned under the name Kodaly Method, a serious reform of existing music education methods and one rooted in the historical, social and cultural circumstances of Hungary of that time. The Kodaly Method is recorgnised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. 

"We aim to popularise our musicians to Vietnamese people,” said deputy head of mission Karolyi Marton. Visiting the exhibition will help you encounter and get insight on how the Kodály principles that have influenced pedagogy and musical education worldwide, namely: musical education from a young age, the pleasure in learning music and the teaching of musical material in the context of the mother-tongue folk song."

Three books about musician Kodaly are also displayed at the library on this occasion. Rounding out the exhibit are pictures, music pieces, articles by and about him, as well as his own memoir, research and manifesto. 

The exhibition will run until March 25 at 31 Tràng Thi Street, Hà Nội. — VNS