Royal Court Music
Nha Nhac, meaning “elegant music,” refers to a broad range of musical and dance styles performed at the Vietnamese royal court from the fifteenth to the mid-twentieth century. Nha Nhac was generally featured at the opening and closing of ceremonies associated with anniversaries, celebrations, religious holidays, coronations, funerals, and official receptions. In the Vietnamese traditional music heritage, Nha nhac plays an important role and is the core of the court affairs. Also, it serves the entertainment demand of the King, royal family, and the court professional, classica,l and scholarly music. Nha nhac was considered the official music of the country, of the authority, and performed in the royal life, including the court and royal family. Therefore, it reflects the spirit and the will of the royal dynasty, such as culture, art, law, power, even the ideology, aesthetics, and regional trends etc.
Nha Nhac developed during the Le dynasty (1427-1788), and it only reached its peak at the Hue Court under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). It is believed that Nha nhac did not truly reach the pinnacle of its development until the Nguyen Dynasty, when it was synthesized. The Nguyễn emperors declared it as the official court music, and it became an essential part of the extensive rituals of the royal palace. Hue Court Music is the last vestige of Vietnamese Court Music. It contains all the quintessence of the Vietnamese Court Music trend that has been established and developed over 1,000 years; therefore, Hue Court Music is identical with Vietnamese Court Music. For long, Nha Nhac, the Vietnamese Court Song has been preserved. It has been introduced inside and outside Vietnam. Up to present, it has been enhanced and popularized to the world.
According to the UNESCO Council’s evaluation, “Vietnam’s royal court music has the meaning of ‘refined music’. It mentions Vietnam’s court music, which is performed at annual festivals, celebrations, and special events, such as the enthronement ceremonies, funeral ceremonies, or official receiving ceremonies. Among various kinds of music developed in Vietnam, only nha nhac is considered the national music. For its own values, UNESCO has recognized the Hue royal Court Music as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2003.
