(VOVworld) – After many years of efforts, the group “Dong Kinh co nhac” (Ancient music of Tonkin) has revived 16 traditional musical instruments which were created hundreds of years ago. The body of the instrument is made from wood and the strings are made from silk. This is the result of a project called “Singing a silk voice” by the group “Ancient music of Tonkin” in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Part of the exhibition of traditional musical instruments (Photo: Dong Kinh co nhac facebook)

This was part of a show to open an exhibition of traditional musical instruments at the Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre in Hanoi on July 8. Spectators were treated to the delicacy of the traditional sounds. Musician Vu Nhat Tan, leader of the “Ancient music of Tonkin”, said silk was used to make musical instruments in ancient times in Eastern countries, including Vietnam. Due to the influx of Western culture, silk-stringed instruments have been fading. That’s why members of the group are keen on reviving the nation’s musical past. Tan said: “The first thing we want to recreate is the ancient materials. In Vietnam, wooden and then bamboo instruments with silk strings were created hundreds of years ago. Until now, the so-called traditional musical instruments have undergone many modifications. They are made by machines and the strings are made of iron. The sounds they produce are amplified. That’s the reason we want to trace back the origins of our musical instruments.”

The group “Ancient music of Tonkin” faced numerous difficulties as silk-stringed instruments are no longer available. People’s Artist Xuan Hoach and other members of the group looked for information in the archives. Hoach said: “Silk weaving requires great efforts to prevent a silk string from being severed. It should be strong enough to withstand the pressure of a player. After one, two, three days, one month or one year, the work may be done. The technique should be perfect to make the instrument durable and produce beautiful sounds.”

 Silk strings produce better sounds than nylon strings and require the players to press their fingers tightly. People’s Artist Xuan Hoach again: “Strings made of silk are different from others and harder to play. Of-course, its sounds are more beautiful and lower. Whenever I perform, my friends say that nothing can compare to silk strings. These are encouraging words and I feel happy that I am able to weave silk into something that helps traditional arts.”

 “Ancient music of Tonkin” with the support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has revived 16 traditional musical instruments made from wood, bamboo and silk, making them playable. The project is significant in preserving Vietnam’s cultural values.