Vietnam - Hue's Court Music 2008

Hue's Court Music (The Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity)

Date of issue: 03 June 2008
Stamp size: 60 x 25 (mm)
Block size: 100 x 61 (mm)
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 20 (2x10)
Designer: Mrs. Hoang Thuy Lieu
Printing process: Offset
Colour:    Monocoloured
Paper: Gummed
Printer: Postal Stamps Printing Company (in Ho Chi Minh City)

Vietnam Dong 800   - Large Scale Orchestra
Vietnam Dong 4000 - Small Scale Orchestra
Vietnam Dong 8000 - Ceremonial Lanterns
Vietnam Dong 9000 - Vietnamese Court Music

The Court music of Huế is the last heritage of Court music of Vietnam. It carries in itself all elites of the Vietnamese Court musicology, formed and developed for more than thousand years.

It is officially formed with the dynasty foundation from beginning of the XIXe century.  Nevertheless, the first bases had already begun since the XVIIe century under the Nguyễn lords at the time of their conquests in the Đàng Trong (The South of the Vietnam). From the beginning, it carried already in itself kinds, elements and elites of the Đàng Ngoài (the North of the Vietnam) musicology that Đào Duy Từ brought while accompanying lord Nguyễn.
The most prosperous period of the Court music of Huế is between the first half of the XIXe century and the time under king Tự Đức (1848-1883).

Afterwards, it fell in degradation when the French colonizing began their aggressive war. And after the Revolution of August 1945, it totally disappeared with the Vietnamese monarchy.

The years 1947-1948, thanks to mustering Court artists from the king Bảo Đại time of Lady Từ Cung (King Bảo Đại's Mother), some kinds of the Court music are continued.  Under Ngô Đình Diệm, the authority of Saigon financially supported performances of two groups Ba Vũ and Cổ nhạc Đại Nội (Former music of the forbidden Court), representatives of the Vietnam traditional music while welcoming chiefs of State and diplomatic delegations.

Afterwards, group Ba Vũ met financial difficulties, the Court music was threatened to disappear.  The years 80, it recommenced to be interested by the Ministry of Culture and local authorities.  Until the years 90, it entered into the renaissance period.  Certain kinds of Court music were increased one after another, with the foundation of the Traditional Arts Group of Huế and Theater of the traditional Court music of Huế.  So far, this art kind already was introduced in several countries of the world.  Nevertheless, the today Court music of Huế just remains a part of the former one; it is nevertheless a precious heritage, gasoline of knowledge and competence of the Vietnamese art. Therefore,

November 2003, she is recognized by the UNESCO on the list of the intangible and oral heritages of humanity.