The Third International Percussion Festival themed “Cracking Bamboo", will be held on October 6, 7, and 10.

Using the foundations of percussion and rhythm, “Cracking Bamboo” hopes to combine Asian and Western musical styles to produce innovative, exciting, and previously unheard works.

Venues including the Goethe Institute, the Hanoi Youth Theatre, and Ho Chi Minh City Music Academy will host the festival’s performances.

The 2012 festival also features workshops in Bangkok for approximately 31 lucky participants. Artists from Germany, Norway, France, England, Mongolia, Canada, Belgium, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam are expected to attend the event.

Vietnam will be represented by three percussionists from the Ho Chi Minh City Music Academy as well as three Hanoian artists. Their contributions will feature traditional Vietnamese string instruments such as the “Dan Bau” (monochord) and the bamboo xylophone known as “Dan T`Rung”.

All participating musicians will spend five days in mixed ensemble groups, exploring the creative possibilities of individual solo contributions, improvisation and short composed segments. Ultimately, attendees aim to produce an arranged program for performances in Bangkok, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Free tickets are available from October 1 at the Goethe Institute in Hanoi. Tickets can also be collected at the institute’s Ho Chi Minh City branch from October 3.