Dang Kim Hien is a composer, performer and educator. She is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, specialising in Vietnamese strings and percussion. She holds many national awards from Vietnam, including a National Gold Medal for Excellence in Vietnamese Zither Performance and a National Award for Traditional Vocal Performance. She taught at the Department of Traditional Music of the Conservatory of Music in Saigon (Vietnam) between 1980 and 1994. Since migrating to Australia in late 1994, she has been active in performing Vietnamese music and creating cross-cultural music. She has collaborated with Australian composers and performers in creating various cross-cultural works. She has performed extensively to present her original works on international platforms. Her compositions and performances have been released on Move Records.

Ðặng Kim Hiền là nhà soạn nhạc và giáo dục âm nhạc chuyên về nhạc truyền thống Việt Nam và nhạc đương đại. Chị sử dụng nhiều nhạc khí Việt Nam thuộc bộ dây và bộ gõ, và nắm vững kỹ thuật thanh nhạc của các truyền thống nhạc Việt. Chị là giảng viên đàn tranh tại Nhạc Viện Sài Gòn từ năm 1980 đến năm 1994. Tại hải ngoại, chị tiếp tục công việc truyền bá âm nhạc Việt Nam và soạn những tấu khúc nhạc đương đại. Các tác phẩm của chị được phát hành trong các CD của Move Records. Tiểu sử, hoạt động, và tác phẩm của chị được ghi nhận trong các từ điển âm nhạc như Oxford Companion to Australian Music, Currency Companion to Music and Dance in Australia, International Who's Who in Music (Classical and Light Classical, 17^th edition) và International Who's Who in Classical Music (18^th edition).

COMPOSITIONS

Rhythmic Metamorphosis (2011, rev. 2012). For 2 Vietnamese battle drums.

Melodia Nostalgica (2006). For dan bau (Vietnamese monochord), piano and a flock of birds. The creation of this work was supported by the Music Board, Australia Council for the Arts.

On a Quivering String (2005). For dan bau (Vietnamese monochord). The creation of this work was supported by the Music Board, Australia Council for the Arts.

Inside Outside (2002). For voice, dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), recorder, viola da gamba and percussion. A collaborated work with Ros Bandt. Commissioned by the Australia Asia Foundation.

Shadows of the Warhorse (1999). For dan tranh (Vietnamese zither) and bells

Dance of Light and Darkness (1997). For traditional Chinese quartet: dizi (flute), sheng (mouth organ), erhu (two-stringed fiddle), and yangqin (dulcimer). Commissioned by the Footscray Community Arts Centre for the Australian Chinese Music Ensemble.

Webs of Life (1996, rev. 2012). Electro-acoustic composition

Silent Tears (1996). For amplified throat voice, suling (Balinese flute) and percussion

Improvisation on Sa Mac Mode (1996). For dan tranh (Vietnamese zithers), and dan bau (Vietnamese monochord)

Northern Spring (1995). For voice, dan tranh (Vietnamese zither) and percussion

Inspiration on a South Vietnamese Folk Melody (Khúc Ngẫu Hứng Trên Điệu Hò Đồng Tháp) (1982). For dan tranh (Vietnamese zither)

ARRANGEMENTS

Various arrangements of Vietnamese traditional melodies for dan tranh and ensembles of Vietnamese instruments.

SOUND RECORDINGS

Sound recordings featuring compositions and/or performances by Dang Kim Hien:

Melodia Nostalgica. 2012. One CD. Sonic Gallery

Fractions of Illumination. 2009. One CD. Sonic Gallery

Flight. 2002. One CD. The Boite

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

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