Noon Concert Series

Archives of Traditional Music: Noon Concert Series

Friday, February 25, 12pm (noon) Hoagy Carmichael Room, Morrison Hall

"Eat Chè, Play Đàn Bầu”: A Lecture on (Vaguely) Traditional (Sorta) Vietnamese Music"

"I was born in North Carolina. Sweet tea flows through my veins, and I believes that frying fish is a good way to start a party."

Jason Nguyen is Vietnamese-American and has studied Vietnamese “traditional” music for nearly ten years. For this lecture and performance, he will introduce and explain the basics of Vietnamese folk and traditional music through the irony-laden eyes of a folk musician who has been be told his music is “authentic”, while being regularly criticized by his “community” for being a “culture-bearer” who uses Wu-Tang Clan beats. During the lecture and performance, Jason will demonstrate how to play the đàn bầu, a uniquely Vietnamese single-string instrument, while also sharing his story of being second-generation Vietnamese. This event is free and open to the public. Please bring your lunch and join us.