Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
Transformations in the Performance Language of Vietnamese Traditional Music Under Contemporary Artistic Practice
Pham Thi Hoang Hien
4 November 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 11, pp. 1975-1981
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-03
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What is this article about?
Background: Contemporary staging, sound production, interdisciplinary collaboration, and digital circulation change how Vietnamese traditional music is performed and perceived. Such changes affect not only arrangements and instrumentation but also the social relationships through which musical meaning is communicated.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 4 November 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 11, pp. 1975-1981
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
Background: Contemporary staging, sound production, interdisciplinary collaboration, and digital circulation change how Vietnamese traditional music is performed and perceived. Such changes affect not only arrangements and instrumentation but also the social relationships through which musical meaning is communicated. Objective: This study identifies the dimensions of performance-language transformation and proposes criteria for distinguishing responsible artistic adaptation from the decontextualised use of heritage materials. Methods: An interpretive qualitative review combines performance and ethnomusicological theory with UNESCO documentation of Ca trù, Quan họ, and Đờn ca tài tử, together with recent Vietnam-related scholarship. The comparison concerns documented characteristics and analytical possibilities rather than recordings of a new performance sample. Results: Four interacting dimensions are identified: sonic and musical organisation, embodied interaction, spatial-media presentation, and contextual attribution. Three modes of contemporary intervention are differentiated: technically mediated traditional presentation, openly interpreted adaptation, and new composition derived from heritage elements. A TRACE framework-Traceability, Relational continuity, Artistic transparency, Community agency, and Experiential interpretation-is proposed. Conclusion: Contemporary creativity can broaden the expressive and public life of traditional music when transformations remain interpretable in relation to particular source practices. The framework requires subsequent assessment through actual productions and practitioner perspectives.
Keywords
- Vietnamese traditional music
- performance language
- contemporary art
- adaptation
- cultural identity
- intangible heritage
- performative interpretation.
Cite this article
Pham Thi Hoang Hien (2026). Transformations in the Performance Language of Vietnamese Traditional Music Under Contemporary Artistic Practice. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(11), 1975-1981. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-03
@article{Pham2026,
title = {Transformations in the Performance Language of Vietnamese Traditional Music Under Contemporary Artistic Practice},
author = {Pham Thi Hoang Hien},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {11},
pages = {1975-1981},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-03},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-03}
}Published in Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS)
ISSN 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
Pham Thi Hoang Hien.
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 11, pages 1975-1981, published by EP Journals Group on 4 November 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-03 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-03).
How do I cite this article?
APA: Pham Thi Hoang Hien (2026). Transformations in the Performance Language of Vietnamese Traditional Music Under Contemporary Artistic Practice. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(11), 1975-1981. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-03
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