The traditional court theater of Vietnam is called hat bôi (hat: theater; bôi: masked or painted face). Although hat bôi bears a superficial resemblance to Chinese theater, the instrumentals and vocals are distinctly Vietnamese. This musical theater genre began in the early 14th century, reaching a peak in popularity in the 19th century. In the mid-20th century it all but vanished due to the rise of modern theatrical styles; however, the reunification of Vietnam in 1975 has resulted in further study and interest in the preservation of the tradition by educators and musicians.

This album recorded by noted musicologist Trân Văn Khê presents excerpts and scenes from traditional plays performed by musicians and singers from the Academy of Dramatic Art and the traditional theater troupe of Ho Chi Minh City.

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Please enjoy a free download of the song “Thân chu”

This album is part of the UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music. More than 125 albums are being released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings to make the series publicly available, including a dozen never-released albums of musical traditions from around the globe.

Track Listing