For the first time ever, a group of monks will join a symphony performance at the UN Days of Vesak 2008 event in Hanoi.

Thirty monks will perform a chant during a symphony titled Khai Giac (Enlightenment) composed by overseas Vietnamese Nguyen Thien Dao.

The performance is scheduled during the Day of Vesak 2008 event May 13-17 in Hanoi in celebration of world peace and the Buddha.

The monks will perform together with the 250-member chorus of the Hanoi Conservatory of Music by chanting the well-known Maha-Prajnaparamita Sutra (Heart Sutra) of Buddhism and beating wooden bells.

The idea of bringing monks together to perform onstage came from senior monk Thich Duc Thien, head of Phat Tich Pagoda in the northern province of Bac Ninh.

Thien, vice chief of the Subdivision for Vesak 2008, first proposed the idea when Vietnam registered to host UN Vesak 2008.

He envisioned a world-class Buddhist symphony with the contribution of monks.

To prepare for their performance on May 16, over the past two months the Monk Chorus of the Vietnam Buddhism Institute in Hanoi has rehearsed their part in Khai Giac, a 40-minute set with seven chapters.

While the monks will perform for just under five minutes, the preparatory work has not been simple.

The first difficulty was gaining participation from the monks themselves.

“The monks only agreed after hearing me explain that they would sing a meditation song, not a secular song, and that this item would help the program be more successful,” said Thich Minh Hau, head of the Monk Chorus.

The second difficulty was teaching the monks the fundamentals of stage performance in such a short time frame.

At the rehearsals, the monks had to learn to perform as real singers, standing in the right places, keeping pace with the rhythms, and standing straight.

This was a challenge for the monks who had never been a part of such a performance before.

At present, preparations for the biggest Buddhist performance in a symphony are almost complete and the monks look ready for their exclusive performance.

Reported by Tu Do

   
(Copy Thanhniennews)