Today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms will be presented in Aulacese (Vietnamese), with subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is a nation with a long-standing traditional culture. Aulacese musical heritage is bountiful; since ancient times, many soul-stirring musical instruments have been created with diverse sounds like those of the copper drum, gong, lithophone, bamboo xylophone, cymbals, and panpipe.

Âu Lạc also has about 54 different ethnic groups. For example, in northern Âu Lạc, there are Thái, Dao, and Mường people living on the Sapa Highland; in central Âu Lạc, there are Gia-rai and Ê-đe people living on Western Highlands as well as Champa people residing on the plains along the seashore. The musical treasure of Aulacese ethnic groups is very impressive.

In November 2005, the gongs and cymbals of Western Highlands were recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as intangible cultural heritage of the world. In our program today, we would like to introduce you to the music and dances of a number of ethnic groups in Âu Lạc.

To begin our program, we invite you to enjoy a music composition in the style of Western Highlands from central Âu Lạc, based on the song “Return to My Side,” composed by Supreme Master Ching Hai. This song combines the powerful sound of Western Highlands’ gongs and cymbals with the melodious t’rung and soaring flute as well as other traditional musical instruments. “Return to My Side” will be presented by Phương Nam Folk Music Group.

From the sunny and windy highlands, we now invite you to visit the majestic mountainous region of northwestern Âu Lạc and merge into the optimistic rhythm of life of the Dao Tiền ethnic group. Let’s find out about a special staff made from bamboo cylinders with ancient coins attached, through a dance entitled “Coins Staff,” performed by artists from the Việt Bắc Folk Song and Dance Company.

Under the dreamy moon of the mountainous area, let us sing and dance together to pray for a bountiful harvest, for people’s happiness and well-being. The friendly invitation of the gentle Dao ethnic people will be conveyed through the dance “Moon Above the Mountain Peak.” This dance will be performed by artists from the Việt Bắc Folk Song and Dance Company.

You’re so beautiful, so pretty, in the colors of our people. Would you like to go with me?

Under the glistening moon, would you sing and dance with me?

Would you stay here with me tonight?

Come join us in a merry festival!

Please join us! We’ll sing and dance together.

Please join us! We’ll sing and dance together.

Please join us! We’ll sing and dance together.

Please join us! We’ll sing and dance together.

You’re so beautiful, so pretty, in the colors of our people. Would you like to go with me?

Under the glistening moon, would you sing and dance with me?

Thank you for watching today’s program featuring the music and dances from some ethnic groups of Âu Lạc (Vietnam).

Please tune in to Supreme Master Television for more Aulacese folk music in future broadcasts. Coming up next is Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, after Noteworthy News. So long for now.