Phong Nguyen

Phong Nguyen Is One Of The Foremost Exponents Of Vietnamese Music In The West And A Recipient Of The National Heritage Fellowship This Nation's Highest Honour For Achievement In The Traditional Arts Awarded At The White House 1997 . Raised In The Mekong Delta Of South Vietnam He Comes From A Family Of Prominent Musicians Conversant In Musical Genres That Span The Vietnamese Musical Spectrum From Theatrical To Chamber Music Folk Songs To Buddhist Chants. He Is A Traditionally-Trained Musician Who Studied With A Village Master From The Age Of Five. At The Age Of 13 He Took Up Vietnamese Theater Music And Went On To Perform Both Cai Luong Reformed Theater And Hat Boi Classical Theater Styles Professionally. He Sings A Large Repertoire Of Dan Ca Folk Songs From Rural Settings And Is Also Master Of The Complex Modal System Of Tai Tu Music A More Formal Entertainment Musical Tradition. He Also Studied With Mountain Tribal Musicians And Learned The Goong Broh Hi Ho And T'rung Bamboo Instruments. He Left His Native Land In 1974 And Went On To Receive His Doctorate In Ethnomusicology From The Sorbonne University. Since Moving To This Country He Has Performed Extensively Throughout The United States Asia And Europe And Taught At The University Of Washington U.C.L.A. And Kent State University. He Can Be Heard On The Lyrichord New Alliance Records And Music Of The World/World Music Institute Labels. read less