When did the zither become popular and widely used


TT: When did the zither become popular and widely used?

TQH: The zither became very popular after 1975, when the Vietnamese started to immigrate as refugees to everywhere in the world. In Vietnam today, both music conservatories in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) offer several classes teaching the zither. Hundreds of students have registered to these classes. A female musician, Mrs Phạm Thúy Hoan, in Saigon has opened a school of traditional music. And a band named “Tieng Hat Que Huong” has many very talented zither players. Another female musician named Hai Phuong, the daughter of Pham Thuy Hoan, is considered as one of the best zither players in Vietnam. She has been invited to perform in France, Japan, Korea and in many other European and Asian countries. She has won the Zither Gold Medal in 1992. Another female artist named Thanh Thuy, professor of zither at the conservatory of Hanoi, has also won a Zither Golden Medal and has been invited to perform in several countries in Europe and Asia. And Professor Vinh Bao is still busy making the zithers and other traditional music instruments in addition to operating his online classes teaching overseas students.

At the same time, many Vietnamese musicians living overseas also opened up classes to teach the zither to Vietnamese children. In France, female artist Phuong Oanh started her zither classes in the early 1980s in Paris and its suburbs, as well as in Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Holland, Germany, etc.

Another female musician Quynh Hanh has also been operating her zither class in Paris. And another female artist named Ho Thuy Trang, who came to France in 2000, has also opened up her zither classes in France and in Switzerland. All these three female artists frequently performed in France in their effort to preserve the zither music.

Furthermore, Professor Tran Van Khe has founded the Centre of Studies for Oriental Music in Paris since 1960, which has graduated hundreds of Vietnamese and European students.

I myself has recorded 23 CDs of zither music in Paris and have received two awards from the “Academie du Disque Charles Cros” in France in 1983 and in 1996 with the cooperation of Bach Yen.

My own sister, Tran Thi Ngoc Thuy, who is an excellent traditional zither player, was also a professor at the Centre of Studies for Oriental Music. She had recorded 2 CDs in Paris with our father Tran Van Khe. In Canada, there is an excellent zither musician named Duc Thanh, who has produced a video to teach the zither by correspondence. In Vancouver, musician Khac Chi, who is a very talented zither and mono-string player, has produced together with his wife who is a female musician Ngoc Bich 2 CDs of Vietnamese music including zither music. Female musician Le Kim Uyen, who emigrated from Australia to Canada, and who has written a Master’s thesis on Vietnamese music, is also an excellent zither player frequently performing across Canada.

In the U.S., professor Nguyen Thuyet Phong, who is a specialist on Buddhist music, also plays the zither and many other traditional music instruments very well. He is also teaching the zither and other musical instruments at many universities in the U.S. Doctor Dao Duy Anh was another wonderful zither performer before completing his medical studies. Female musician Ngoc Dung in San Jose, CA, is a professional zither player, who was a former member of the Hoa Sim group in Saigon before 1975. She has formed a traditional musical group in San Jose and frequently played the zither with her group across the U.S.

In Australia, there is a very talented musician couple, Le Tuan Hung and Dang Kim Hien, who have been making a great contribution to the Vietnamese music scene in Australia. Mr. Le Tuan Hung, who is a Ph.D. graduate in ethnomusicology, has written a number of articles on the zither, the instrument he excels. His wife Dang Kim Hien, who won a Gold Medal in singing Vietnamese folk music in Vietnam, is also very good in playing many traditional music instruments. Together they form a very rare and talented group specializing in Vietnamese music with a “new wave” touch.

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