
Berlin (VNA) – The “Suite Kieu” (To khuc Kieu) by Vietnamese music professor and guitarist Dang Ngoc Long was one of the six works played by Zafraan Ensemble - aGerman group based in Berlin that is well-known for its classicalconcerts with a distinct crossover flair at the House of WorldCultures in Berlin on March 1.
The other five works are composed by artists from Algeria, Angola, Cuba, Ghana and Chile.
"Suite Kieu" features “The Tale of Kieu” - a literary legacy left by great poetNguyen Du. With Vietnamese materials based on Europeanharmony, Long composed the “Suite Kieu” in 2016. He wrote it for Zafraan Ensemble at the request of this band, playing with guitar andflute, clarinet, violin, and piano.
Zafraan Ensemble’s performance formed part of the cultural and artistic activities to reminisce the pastbetween Germany and countries within the framework ofthe exhibition "ECHOS DER BRUDERLÄNDER", a multidisciplinary projecton international relations heritage.
Professor Dang Ngoc Long is known asthe person who brought Vietnamese music, from Nghe Tinh folk songs to Quan Hofolk songs, to Europe.
As the art director of the International GuitarCompetition & Festival Berlin, Long has turned Vietnamese folk songs intoarrangements in this major music competition. To promote Vietnamese music, hecomposed seven suites to enhance the value of the German translation of the Tale of Kieu./.