A Folk Arts Study

Vietnamese Folk Music

F O L K · A R T S · S T U D I E S

A research project in the Vietnamese folk arts heritage

Mekong NYC hosts a music class to teach students how to play the đàn tranh (Vietnamese zither). The class is infused with storytelling, especially Vietnamese folk tales and culture, community building through group playing and listening, and group theory, examining traditional Vietnamese and Cambodian songs and pop music.

Lesson: Ly-Ngua-O-Nam_Melody
for Vietnamese 16-string zither
by Teacher Phan Gia Anh-Thư & Teacher Ngô Thanh Nhàn
Apr 02, 2025 20:44:24
m02_Ly-Ngua-O-Nam

1 – Ly-Ngua-O-Nam
Ly-Ngua-O-Nam • Melody • YWCM •

Tablature to Click and Print: tablatures/m02_Ly-Ngua-O-Nam_Melody_YWCM.pdf

T H E S T O R Y:Lý Ngựa Ô Nam [Song of the Black Stallion] , folk song of south Vietnam. Lý is a folk song with a theme, special to the region south of Huế. This song describes a groom to be, preparing in minute details to decorate his black stallion to carry his bride to their new home.
Terms: Ngựa ô, black stallion; khớp, bit, harness; kiệu, palanquin; lục lạc, rattle, bell; búp sen, lotus brass , lá dặm, leaf blinkers; dây cuương, rein, cán roi, whip handle.

For đàn Tranh, the tuning raise all E's to F's, see the left label column of each tablature. The Knocking is with your thumb nail or index nail on the side of the wood base. There is one slightly bent note, from A⁴ to A♯⁴ at Phrase 10 and Phrase 12.
Lý ngựa Ô, reading by Lê Minh Quốc.