Le Tuan Hung is a composer, performer and musicologist, specialising in Vietnamese music, cross-cultural music and experimental music. He is a multi-instrumentalist with a strong background in Vietnamese traditional music and Western classical music. He has performed widely in Asia, Australia, Europe, America and Oceania. His compositions have been created for a wide range of instruments, ensembles and media. His compositions and performances have been released by Move Records, NMA, ABC Music and Australian Sound Heritage Association. He is also the author of various publications on Vietnamese performing arts and is regarded as an expert in Vietnamese musicology. Apart from being trained as a traditional musician in the Vietnamese tradition, he also had a Bachelor of Music from the University of Melbourne and a PhD in Music from Monash University.

COMPOSITIONS

Legend of the Light (2007). For angklung [Indonesian bamboo shakers], dan tranh [Vietnamese zither], dizi [Chinese flute], voice, Japanese bell, power pole bells, and shakers. Created for netarts with support from the Australia Council for the Arts. Duration: 8:10

El Mantra para las Semillas del Amor (Mantra for the Seeds of Love) (2006). Electro-acoustic composition incorporating the sounds of human voice, rainsticks, bells, Balinese bamboo flutes and prepared Vietnamese zithers. Duration: 5:30. .

Memories of Water (2006). For dan tranh [Vietnamese zither], suling [Balinese flute], bells, windchimes, whirlies, and pre-recorded sounds. Duration: 6:14

In the Shadows of the Wind (2006). Electro-acoustic composition. Duration: 0:59

From the Inner Space (2005). For harmonic voice, power pole bells, woodblock and electronics. Duration: 3:50

Elegy (2004). For voice, dan gao (Vietnamese fiddle), power pole bells, whirly (plastic wind roarer), Japanese wind bells, prepared dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), and rainsticks. Duration: 4:17

A Song for Sky Bells (2004). For power pole bells, dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), suling (Balinese flute), and Oceanian panpipes. Created for radio broadcast, with support from the Australia Council for the Arts. Duration: 9:56

On the Wings of a Butterfly (2004). For 2 suling (Balinese flutes), medieval psaltery and dan tranh (Vietnamese zither). A work created in collaboration with Ros Bandt. Commissioned by the Australia Asia Foundation. Duration: 11:10

Echoes of an Old Festive Song (2002). For traditional Chinese quintet: dizi (flute), sheng (mouth organ), 2 erhu (two-stringed fiddles), and percussion. Duration: 2:30

Lotus Pond (1998, rev. 2002). For traditional Chinese quintet: dizi (flute), sheng (mouth organ), 2 erhu (two-stringed fiddles), and percussion. Duration: 5:11

Scent of Time (2000). A miniature for shakuhachi (Japanese flute) and harpsichord. Duration: 2:00

Scent of Memories (1998). For traditional Chinese quintet: dizi (flute), sheng (mouth organ), 2 erhu (two-stringed fiddles), and percussion. Commissioned by the Australia Asia Foundation for the Australian Chinese Music Ensemble. Duration: 10:00

Homeland (1997). For double choruses. Texts in English and Vietnamese by Le Van Tai. Commissioned by Footscray Community Arts Centre with support from the Myer Foundation. Duration: approx. 10:00

Mystical Spring (1997). For classical guitar. Duration: 9:15

Songs of the Exile (1997). For SATB chorus. English text by Le Van Tai. Duration: 6:09

Water Ways (1997). For wind orchestra. Commissioned by Canberra Youth Theatre. Duration: 45:00

Calm Water (1995). For 2 dan tranh (Vietnamese zithers), Hmong flute, Balinese suling (end-blown flute), and 2 electronic crickets. Duration: 7:16

Longing for Wind (1995). For harmonic voice, dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), dan nguyet (Vietnamese lute), and tape. Duration: 7:23

Body Language (1994). For body sounds, toys and percussion. Duration: varied.

Homeland Now and Then (1994). For voice, dan tranh (Vietnamese zither) and electronic crickets and birds. Duration: approx. 10:00

Street Calls (1994). For 2 voices and 2 angklung. An improvisatory work in collaboration with Anne Norman. Street calls in Vietnamese, Japanese, English, and Bahasa Indonesian. Duration: Varied.

Melorhythm (1993). For 2 cellos and 13 violins. Commissioned by West Strings. Duration: varied depending on the structure selected by performers.

Reflections (1991). For 2 dan tranh (Vietnamese zithers), psaltery, and kacapi (Indonesian zither). Duration: 5:54

Spring (1991). Setting of a Basho poem. For four prepared zithers: 2 dan tranh (Vietnamese zithers), psaltery, and kacapi (Indonesian zither). Duration: 4:14

Pond (1991). Setting of a Basho poem. A collaborated work with Ros Bandt and Le Thi Kim. For Renaissance flute and 2 dan tranh (Vietnamese zither). Duration: 4:23

Prayer for Land (1991). For 2 dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), psaltery, kacapi, Renaissance flute, and percussion. Commissioned by the Back to Back Zithers, with support from the Australia Council for the Arts. Duration: 16:25

Stringwaves (1990). For violin and string orchestra. Commissioned by West Strings. Duration: approx. 5:00

String wave on Bac (1989). For 2 dan tranh (Vietnamese zithers), psaltery, and kacapi (Indonesian zither). A collaborated work with Ros Bandt, Kari and Le Thi Kim. Duration: 10:00

Composition for a Friend (1987). For dan tranh (Vietnamese zither). Duration: 8:00

SOUND RECORDINGS

Sound recordings featuring compositions and/or performances by Le Tuan Hung:

On the Wings of a Butterfly : Cross-cultural Music by Australian Composers . 2005. One CD. Move Records, MD3297.

Scent of time : Australian Compositions for Asian Instruments and Voices. 2002. One CD. Move Records, MD 3263

Zalankara : a Multicultural Symphony. Music by Jeff Pressing. 2001. One CD. Move Records, MCD 191.

Transplanted Music Traditions in Australia. 1999. Two CDs. Sound about Australia vol. 19. Centre for Studies in Australian Music, University of Melbourne (Note: This CD compilation was supposed to feature Le Tuan Hung's original work Composition for a Friend, but his performance of a traditional piece Co Ban [Ancient Composition] was mistakenly included in the CD instead! The booklet still presents the information on his Composition for a Friend though!)

Echoes of Ancestral Voices : Traditional Music of Vietnam. 1997. One CD. Move Records, MD 3199

Landscapes of Time: Contemporary Sound Art of Vietnam. 1996. One CD. Move Records, MD 3197

Musical Transfiguration : a Journey across Vietnamese Soundscapes. 1993. One CD. Move Records, MD 3128

Quivering String. 1992. One CD. Move Records. MD 3141

Best Seats in the House! 1992. 1 cassette. NMA Publications

WRITINGS

Books/Monographs

Dan Tranh Music of Vietnam : Traditions and Innovations
Melbourne : Australia Asia Foundation, 1998

The dynamics of change in Hue and tai tu music of Vietnam between c.1890 and c.1920
Clayton, Vic. : Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University, 1991

Articles, chapters in books:

Vietnamese Music in Australia: A General Survey
Online article at A Touch of Viet. 2003-2004.

Hue and Tai Tu Music of Vietnam : Concept of Music and Social Organisation of Musicians
Online article in ePapyrus. 2003.

"Vietnamese Traditions" in Currency Companion to Music and Dance in Australia. General editors: John Whiteoak and Aline Scott-Maxwell. Sydney: Currency House in association with Currency Press, 2003.

"Vietnamese Music" in Oxford Companion to Australian Music. Edited by Warren Bebbington. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1997.

"Popular music of Vietnam" in Music and Popular Culture: Asia and Australia : Unit Study Guide. Clayton, Vic.: Monash Open Learning, 1995.

"The Dynamics of Change in Hue and Tai Tu Music between 1890 and 1990" in Music-cultures in Contact : Convergences and Collisions. Edited by Margaret J. Kartomi and Stephen Blum. Sydney : Currency Press, 1994.

"Composition and Performing Process in Hue and Southern Chamber Music" in Nhac Viet Journal of Vietnamese Music, 1992, 1(2):43-60.