and Temple Yards

While there are several classical and folk theater foms in Vietnam, only the d f Itrdnp
of southern Vietnam is @armed in the United States. &i Irlcmg is extremely popular, and
has fashioned its plots from Vietnamese legends, history, conhrnpotasy politics, and
reli_eious beliefs. Instrumental music, singing and dancing are key to the theatrical
perfomance, and contemporary staging includes xenwy, lighting, and amplification through
stated-the-ast sound systems. Much of the music of c& l~mg derives from nhe nhac di t3
(see previous page) which was the original inspiration for the theater form in 1919- 1920, The
favorite song of Vietnamese immigrants, "Von,g ~ 6 "'(bnging for the Past) is usually
includedin theca'i?#dng. ~ornan~ ~iemarnese,"~png~$'& ca'iI~(mg-andviceversa. New
plays are currently king written and pduced, audio and video tapes are available for
purchase. and the training of actors and actresses continues in many Vietnamese immigrant
communities.
HA Si classical lhcatn jmhrmance, dramatizing the smry of he Sistea Tnmg.
chdu vSn, shamanist chanting and dancing. ase infrequentIy found in several West
Coast temples, and in Texas. ~ha'sr vZn is oriented toward the achievement of mce-like
states, and is accompanied by live or recorded music. The practice originated in certain rribal
ri tuds of the Hmong and Tai mountain people.
'Fhe Westernized music called thnhac originated during the French colonid perid.
Th nh3e uses Western insburnentation and Vietnamese 1-vrjcs, and often utilizes Vietnamese
folk melodies as well. Once an easy-listening music, it is now the rage for young people
in its adaptation as "'new wave" Vieiemarnese rock. Vietnamese songs as well as translated
versions of American, French, Chinese and Japanese songs are available on audio and video
cassette tapes.