Vietnam is at risk of losing sovereignty over the Dan Bau.

Some experts and artists hope that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will quickly prepare a dossier to request UNESCO to recognize the monochord as a cultural heritage of the Vietnamese people.

On October 21, the Vietnam Institute of Musicology (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) organized a scientific conference "Dan Bau and its role in Vietnamese culture" in Hanoi.

Associate Professor - Doctor Nguyen Binh Dinh (Director of the Institute of Music) said that up to now there is not enough data to say exactly when the monochord originated, but it can be affirmed that this is a Vietnamese musical instrument, born at least before the 19th century. "If we choose a representative instrument of Vietnamese national musical instruments, capable of introducing and promoting the country and people of Vietnam, it is definitely the monochord," said Mr. Dinh.

According to Mr. Dinh, there are more than ten types of one-stringed instruments in the world, but only the monochord can produce a multi-note sound, can play all pitches, and can perform vibrato and pressing techniques, especially the vibrato, which is suitable for the Vietnamese musical style with many ornate and graceful sounds.

According to People's Artist Thanh Tam, there are many legends about this instrument in Vietnam that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. "Over time, the monochord has become the flesh and blood of the Vietnamese people," she said.

Meritorious Artist Bui Le Chi, People's Artist Tran Quy, musician Nguyen Tien, Master Nguyen Van Loi... all affirmed that the monochord originated from the productive labor life of Vietnamese people, with its structure and materials available in folklore, closely associated with our culture from ancient times to the present.

Workshop on Dan Bau in Hanoi on October 21.

However, researchers expressed concern over the information that Chinese scholars are trying to prove that the Dan Bau originated from this country.People's Artist Thanh Tam said that recently, Guangxi province, China has introduced the monochord into teaching in public schools. Guangxi University for Nationalities also has a monochord department.

According to Professor Tran Quang Hai, in recent years China has also organized ethnic festivals with monochord performances by hundreds of players.

However, according to some experts, the monochord has only developed in China in the last 20 years. Professor - Doctor of Science To Ngoc Thanh pointed out that in the 1960s, when Vietnamese troupes toured China, many artists and musicians from this country asked to learn the monochord. In 1967, artist Dien Xuong from this country followed the Vietnamese troupe to learn from artist Duc Nhuan.

Artist Thanh Tam expressed her opinion that it is time for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to quickly prepare a dossier to request UNESCO to recognize the monochord as a cultural heritage of Vietnam. Professor - Doctor To Ngoc Thanh shared the same opinion and emphasized: "This is a cultural sovereignty that needs to be protected, the longer we wait, the more we will lose sovereignty over the monochord."

Director of the Music Institute Nguyen Binh Dinh summarized the urgent tasks that need to be done: Scientifically re-evaluate all historical issues, social significance, cultural values, artistic functions, and performance techniques; Proceed to issue national measurement standards for the monochord, and unify the production and use of the monochord.

According to VNE