HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Music Development Centre has launched a singing contest to highlight the importance of folk music in the development of pop music.

The Autumn Festival 2018 contest will be for people of all ages who have a talent and passion for singing. It aims to highlight the influence of Vietnamese folk music in pop song writing and singing. 

It is held to celebrate the National Independent Day which falls on September 2 and Vietnamese Music Day on September 3.

Contestants will be required to perform two songs, including one folk song which can be in the form of quan họ Bắc Ninh (love duet singing), ca trù (ceremonial singing), chèo (popular opera), or xẩm (blind busker singing). Trống quân singing will also be allowed.

Quan họ is among folk songs to be performed at the singing contest held by the Việt Nam Music Development Centre. Photo Vnplus.com

The singing genres of quan họ Bắc Ninh and ca trù were registered by the UNESCO in its representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2009. Quan họ is an art form that combines various elements, including music, lyrics, and costumes, and features the distinctive culture of people in the region formerly called Kinh Bắc. Ca trù traces its origins from the 11th century, but it was not officially recognised as a form of entertainment for the royal court until the 13th century during the Lý Dynasty. 

The contestants will also be required to sing pop songs composed by musicians known to write pop songs based on folk music, such as Nguyễn Cường, Phó Đức Phương, Nguyễn Tài Tuệ, and Nguyễn Trọng Tạo.

From an initial list of 30 contestants, 10 finalists will be selected to compete in the final round. The finalists will perform at a gala concert and award ceremony in September in Hà Nội. — VNS