Cultrure Acculturation among Vietnamese Catholics: A Survey of the Trắc Drum Set in Bắc Ninh Diocese

Abstract

Cultural acculturation unfolds through a process of exchange, prolonged contact, reception, and transformation among diverse cultures. This phenomenon finds its most conspicuous manifestation in various forms of thought, culture, and art, particularly in the realm of musical performance. The symbiotic relationship between culture and religion is also an embodiment of acculturation, as the imperative to assimilate and innovate within distinct cultural and religious contexts consistently arises to align with the demands of each culture and religion within specific historical settings. A notable illustration of this phenomenon can be found in the realm of Catholicism, which serves as the focal point of certain research endeavors. Introduced to Vietnam during the early 16th century, Catholicism has exerted a substantial influence on Vietnamese culture, despite encountering resistance stemming from cultural and ideological disparities. In essence, the prolonged interaction with Vietnamese culture has engendered various unique art forms, including Catholic music, which have organically integrated into the fabric of Vietnamese Catholic cultural life. This article adopts a theoretical perspective on acculturation and the theory of cultural-religious relations to expound on pertinent subjects derived from investigations into the Trắc Drum instrument set employed in Catholic Masses within the Bắc Ninh Diocese of Vietnam. The analysis encompasses the instrument set’s origins, notational system, traditional aspects, and scholarly components. Furthermore, this study delves into the impact of this orchestra on the cultural and artistic landscape of the contemporary non-Catholic populace.