Tay Son Military Music
This type of music is played in military dance ceremonies. The Tay Son Military Music originated in Binh Dinh Province, a place famous for its practice of martial arts.
According to legend, Tay Son military music was
composed by three heroes who were farmers named Nguyen Hue. They aimed to use
martial arts as a force of revolt. With the set of 17 drums, a player is
supposed to use both his palms to hit 12 drums and his head, elbows, and heels
to hit the other five. Players who could play the 17 drums effectively were
deemed masters of this musical form. Later generations have learned to play
this kind of music to worship the three heroes and their followers who
sacrificed their lives to sweep out invaders. Tay Son Military Music consists
of four items: Troop Dispatching, Military Marching, Troop Stop, and Triumphant
Hymn. Tay Son Military Music has become a valued art heritage of the
Vietnamese.
