Viet Nam: Traditions of the South

This recording, compiled and annotated by Vietnamese musicologist Trân Vân Khê, collects two styles of music from the southern region of Vietnam (defined in the liner notes as the area between the 12th parallel and the country’s southern tip at Pointe de Cà Mau). The inclusion of both formal ritual and religious music, including prayers and a spirit possession song, and secular or “entertainment” music, which allows for improvisation, creates a great sonic variety. One piece in the latter genre is the extremely popular “Longing for the Past.” The music is performed on a variety of traditional Vietnamese instruments ranging from 2-string fiddles to 16-string zithers, flutes, end-blown double reeds, and percussion. Vocals are in the form of chants and lyrical songs.

Track Listing

101	Bai Trong Lay and Thet	Tu Huyen, Nam Phu, Chin Quon, Sau Phu, Hai Phat	02:52
102	Buddhist Chants and Prayers / A Bonze of Saigon	Tu Huyen, Hai Phat, Tam Thu, Hai Dat	04:30
103	Bai Ha	Tu Huyen, Hai Phat, Tam Thu, Bay Ham, Chin Quon, Hai Dat	04:55
104	Respectful Invitation to the Goddess of the West	Hai Phat, Tu Huyen, Chin Quon, Tam Thu, Sau Phu, Hai Dat	08:38
105	Xang Xê	Hai Biêu, Sau Tung, Bay Ham	04:28
106	Rao Nam, Hoi Ai-Oan	Vinh Bao	03:30
107	Binh Ban	Ba Duong, Sau Tung, Bay Ham, Tu Huyen	03:46
108	The Wind Blows and Bends the Weeping Willow	Mong Trung, Trân Vân Khê	04:04
109	The Four Generations	Miss Bach Huê, Hai Biêu, Tu Huyen, Sau Tung	04:11
110	The Beautiful Tây Thi	Hai Biêu, Sau Tung, Bay Ham	03:35
111	Longing for the Past	Miss Bach Huê, Hai Biêu, Sau Tung, Bay Ham	04:13