Le-Tuyen Nguyen

Dr Le-Tuyen Nguyen

 https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2199-5158

Personal profile

Biography

Dr Le-Tuyen Nguyen is an Australian composer, researcher, and teacher.  He studied music and education at the University of New South Wales and completed his doctorate at the Australian National University. His research focuses on creative ethnomusicology, practice-based research, Australian music with Asian influences, and Vietnamese traditional music. His compositions and arrangements include solo instrumental works, art songs, choral and small chamber works.  Le-Tuyen has worked in leadership positions within the New South Wales Department of Education and as a Teaching Fellow at the Australian National University School of Music. 

Le-Tuyen is a bi-lingual author with publications in English and Vietnamese. His earliest work was a chapter on the new guitar technique staccato-harmonic duotone featured in Six epigrams for guitar by the prominent Australian composer Larry Sitsky published by the Australian Music Centre in 2013. His latest book on Southern Vietnamese traditional music Đường về Phương Nam (The Way to the South) was released in January 2025 by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House. 

As a performer, Le-Tuyen is an active solo guitarist and ensemble musician with many concerts in Australia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Paris, and the USA. He is co-founder of the Guihangtar Duo - a guitar and percussion ensemble in collaboration with Professor Salil Sachdev of Bridgewater State University (USA) and co-published the CD Dawn of the Mountain Forest in the USA in 2016.

Biography

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

Visiting Fellow (2025 - ongoing) School of Music, The Australian National University 

Higher Degree Research Thesis Examiner (2021 - ongoing) School of Music, The Australian National University 

Teaching Fellow (2012 - 2016) School of Music, The Australian National University

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy in Music The Australian National University, 2018 

Research fields: Composition, Performance Studies, Creative Ethnomusicology, Australian music with Asian influences, Vietnamese traditional music

Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Education The University of New South Wales, 1996

Research Interests

PUBLICATIONS

  1. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen.Tài Tử Music: Lost in Translation. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW, 2024. ISMN 9790902257510. Available at: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/10027436
  2. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Staccato-Harmonic Duotone. Earth Music Press, Sydney, New South Wales, 2024.ISMN 9790902257398. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/256301447.
  3. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Song of the South : for piano and voice. Earth Music Press, Sydney, New South Wales, 2024. ISMN 9790902257503. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/256346665
  4. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Piano poems : six compositions for solo piano. Sydney: Earth Music Press. 2019. Print. ISMN 9790902257305.  Available at: https://www.gleebooks.com.au/product/piano-poems-six-compositions-for-solo-piano/
  5. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Song of the South : for solo piano. Earth Music Press, Sydney, New South Wales, 2021. ISMN 9790902257473. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248894415
  6. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega : Arrangement in D (Printed music). Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. 2021. ISMN 9790902257367. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248811593
  7. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen I learn to live : Fairvale School Song. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW, 2021. ISMN 9790902257459. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248807717
  8. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Prelude Johann Sebastian Bach BWV 1007 : Arrangement for Guitar. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. 2021. ISMN 9790902257381. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248788144
  9. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Allemande in E minor : Arrangement for guitar by Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. 2024. ISMN 9790902257350. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/256304019
  10. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Prelude in E flat major BWV 998 : Arrangement for guitar by Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. 2024. ISMN 9790902257336. Available at: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3299115336/view
  11. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Everlasting Moments : Memories of Saigon. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. 2021. ISMN 9790902257374.  https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248748898
  12. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Prelude in C minor BWV 997 : Arrangement for guitar by Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. 2024. ISMN 9790902257510. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/256374219
  13. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen.  Highland Dreaming. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW, 2021. ISMN 9790902257442. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248804841
  14. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Song of the Nightingale : Vietnamese folk song Lý chim quyên : Dedicated to Claude Debussy. Earth Music Press, Sydney, New South Wales. 2021. ISMN 9790902257411. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248793110
  15. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen (2021). Call of the Mountain Forest. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. ISMN 9790902257428. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248804839
  16. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Nocturne. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW, 2021. ISMN 9790902257435. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248804840
  17. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Song of the South : Vietnamese folk song Lý con sáo. Earth Music Press, Sydney, NSW. 2021. ISMN 9790902257398. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248788145
  18. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Sunset : Vietnamese folk song Lý chiều chiều. Earth Music Press, Sydney, New South Wales, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/248847662
  19. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Sounds of the highlands. Sydney: Earth Music Press. 2019. Print. ISMN 9790902257312.
  20. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen. Dawn of the mountain forest : the creation of earth. Sydney: Earth Music Press. 2019. Print. ISMN 9790902257329.
  21. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen.  “Staccato-harmonic duotone”.  Six epigrams for guitar : illustrating Le-Tuyen Nguyen’s discovery of duotones on the guitar. By Larry Sitsky.  Sydney: Australian Music Centre. 2013.  Print.  Available at http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/six-epigrams-for-guitar-illustrating-le-tuyen-nguyen-s-discovery-of-duotones-on-the-guitar
  22. Nguyen, Le-Tuyen & Sachdev, Salil. Dawn of the Mountain Forest.  Guihangtar. 2014. CD.  Available at: Gleebooks
  23. Nguyêñ, Lê-Tuyên and Sachdev, Salil.  GuiHANGtar (October 18, 2011).  BSU Department of Music Music Faculty Concerts and Recitals. Concert #5, 2011.  Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/fac_concerts/5

Research Interests

PUBLICATIONS IN VIETNAMESE

  1. Nguyễn, Lê Tuyên. Đường về Phương Nam – Nghiên cứu mới về đờn ca tài tử và cải lương. Ho Chi Minh City: Nhà xuất bản Tổng hợp thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, 2025. Available at: https://nxbhcm.com.vn/2/duong-ve-phuong-nam-nghien-cuu-moi-ve-don-ca-tai-tu-va-cai-luong-7042
  2. Nguyễn Lê Tuyên. “Radio Saigon: phát sóng âm nhạc Nam bộ ra thế giới”. Người Đô Thị, Số 28.10.2021. Available at: https://nguoidothi.net.vn/don-doc-nguoi-do-thi-phat-hanh-ngay-28-10-32000.html
  3. Nguyễn Lê Tuyên. “Phùng Há: “Ngôi sao vô địch nước Nam” trong Bảo tàng Nhân loại”. Người Đô Thị Online,14/10/2021. Link: https://nguoidothi.net.vn/phung-ha-ngoi-sao-vo-dich-nuoc-nam-trong-bao-tang-nhan-loai-31738.html
  4. Nguyễn Lê Tuyên. “Báu vật Nam bộ “Vọng cổ hoài lang” trong bảo tàng Pháp”.  Người Đô Thị Online, 01/10/2021. Link: https://nguoidothi.net.vn/bau-vat-nam-bo-vong-cohoai-lang-trong-bao-tang-phap-31501.html
  5. Nguyễn Lê Tuyên. “Kỷ niệm một trăm năm cải lương: Góc nhìn từ Paris 1931”. Người Đô Thị, Số 75 8/2018. Available at: https://nguoidothi.net.vn/ky-niem-mot-tram-nam-cai-luong-goc-nhin-tu-paris-1931-14638.html
  6. Nguyễn, Lê Tuyên. “Dạ cổ hoài lang: Sự chín muồi của một ý thức sáng tạo mới”. Tuổi Trẻ cuối tuần (21/7/2017). Available at: https://cuoituan.tuoitre.vn/tin/20190721/100-nam-ban-da-co-hoai-lang-su-chin-muoi-cua-mot-y-thuc-sang-tao-moi/1535807.html
  7. Nguyễn, Lê Tuyên.  “Âm hưởng phương Đông trong âm nhạc cổ điển Úc” (Eastern influences in Australian art music). Văn hóa học 5 (20) (2015): 61 – 74.
  8. Nguyễn, Lê Tuyên & Nguyễn, Đức Hiệp. “Quan hệ văn hoá Pháp-Việt đầu thế kỷ 20 qua sự kiện Triển lãm Toàn cầu 1900”.  Văn hóa học 6 (16) (2014): 31-36
  9. Nguyễn, Lê Tuyên & Nguyễn, Đức Hiệp.  Hát bội, đờn ca tài tử và cải lương cuối thế kỷ 19 đầu thế kỷ 20.  Ho Chi Minh City: Văn Hóa Văn Nghệ & Phương Nam Book. 2013. Print. 
  10. Nguyễn, Lê Tuyên. “Sài Gòn và thời kỳ phôi thai của Cải lương”. Tuổi Trẻ cuối tuần, số 30, 12/8/2018.
  11. Nguyễn, Lê Tuyên. “Sự kỳ diệu của Đờn ca Tài tử”. Thể thao & Văn hóa (1/5/2014). Available at: http://thethaovanhoa.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/su-ky-dieu-cua-don-ca-tai-tu-n20140425142158101.htm

Research Interests

CONFERENCE PAPERS 

  1. Le-Tuyen Nguyen. From Cochinchina With Love. Paper presented at 2023 National Conference  of the Musicological Society of Australia. The University of Adelaide Australia, December 2023. 
  2. Le-Tuyen Nguyen & Huynh Khai. The first Western score of Tài tử music: historical  contexts, interpretation, and hypothesis. Paper presented at 2017 World Conference  of the International Council for Traditional Music. The University of Limerick Ireland,  13 – 20 July 2017. 
  3. Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Australian guitar music with Vietnamese cultural influences.  Paper presented at the 43rd World Conference of the International Council of  Traditional Music. The University of Kazakhstan, Astana, July 2015. 
  4. Le-Tuyen Nguyen & Huynh Khai. The first Western music score of Nhạc Tài tử: historical contexts and musical analysis. Paper presented at the 38th National  Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia Musical Dialogues, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, 1 – 4 October 2015. 
  5. Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Nhạc tài tử: A French Affair. Paper presented at the joint  Musicological Society of Australia & New Zealand Musicological Society International  Conference Music and Metamorphosis, Griffith University Brisbane, 18 – 22  November 2013 
  6. Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Nhạc tài tử: Lost in translation. Paper at the 2013 World  Conference of the International Council of Traditional Music, Shanghai Conservatory  of Music, Shanghai, July 2013. 
  7. Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Ambience from the Vietnamese Highlands. Lecture-recitals  presented at the Music and Environment Symposium, The University of Technology  Sydney, Sydney, 13 April 2013. 
  8. Le-Tuyen Nguyen & Salil Sachdev. GuiHANGtar: Rooted in Tradition, Molded in  Innovation. Lecture-demonstration presented at the World Forum on Music,  Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane, 20 November 2013.
  9. Le-Tuyen Nguyen. Australian guitar music with Vietnamese cultural influences.  Lecture-demonstration presented at Voyages of Discovery, National Conference of  the New Zealand Musicological Society, The University of Auckland, New Zealand, 30  November – 2 December 2012. 
  10. Le-Tuyen Nguyen & Salil Sachdev. Vietnamese Gong culture in contemporary  compositions, Lecture-demonstration presented at Power of Music, National  Conference of Musicological Society of Australia, The University of Western  Australia, December 2011. http://www.music.uwa.edu.au/research/power-of music/icme/?a=1891193 

Research Interests

SELECTED CREATIVE WORKS 

  1. Angel (2012). Solo Piano. Premiere: 27/11/2019 by Professor Diana Blom at The  Playhouse The University of Western Sydney. 
  2. Poem for Saigon (2019). Solo Piano. Premiere: 27/11/2019 by Professor Diana Blom at The Playhouse The University of Western Sydney. 
  3. My first love (2013). Solo Piano. Premiere: 27/11/2019 by Professor Diana Blom at  The Playhouse The University of Western Sydney. 
  4. Destiny (2019). Solo Piano. Premiere: 27/11/2019 by Professor Diana Blom at The  Playhouse The University of Western Sydney, SYDNEY.  
  5. Étude romantique (2019). Solo Piano. Premiere: 27/11/2019 by Professor Diana  Blom at The Playhouse The University of Western Sydney.  
  6. Call of the Mountain Forest (2009). Premiere: Solo Guitar , 2010, Recital Hall East,  Sydney Conservatorium of Music ; Guitar and Hang drum, 2010, Horace Mann  Auditorium, Bridgewater State University USA; Guitar and Taegŭm, 2010, KAG Art  Hall, Seoul.
  7. Highland Dreaming (1995). Premiere: Solo Guitar(2007), Darwin International Guitar  Festival Charles Darwin University; Guitar and Hang drum, 2010, Horace Mann  Auditorium, Bridgewater State University USA; Guitar and Taegŭm, 2010, KAG Art  Hall, Seoul.
  8. Nocturne (1996). Premiere: Solo Guitar, 2007, Darwin International Guitar  Festival Charles Darwin University; Guitar and Water drum, 2010, Horace Mann  Auditorium, Bridgewater State University.
  9. Moonlight (2010). Premiere: Solo Guitar, 2010, Centre Mandapa Paris; Guitar and Tibetan gong, 2010, Horace Mann Auditorium, Bridgewater State University.
  10. Colours of the Far East (2010). Premiere: Guitar and Taegŭm, 2010, KAG Art Hall,  Seoul.
  11. Come Together (2010). Premiere: Guitar and Percussion Instruments, 2010, Horace  Mann Auditorium, Bridgewater State University.
  12. Farewell to the Mountain Forest (2012). Premiere: Solo Guitar, 2013, Fine Arts  Museum Ho Chi Minh City .
  13. Love Song (2010). Premiere: Guitar and Children Choir, 2010, Bankstown Town Hall,  Sydney; Guitar and Percussion Instruments, 2011, Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of  Music.
  14. Sunset (2011). Premiere: Solo Guitar, 2011, University of Massachusetts USA; Guitar  and Vietnamese Traditional Orchestra, 2012, Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of  Music.
  15. Fantasia (1996). Premiere: Solo Guitar, 2007, Darwin International Guitar  Festival Charles Darwin University.
  16. Song of the Nightingale (1998). Premiere: Solo Guitar, 2007, Darwin International  Guitar Festival Charles Darwin University; Guitar and Percussion Instruments,  2011, Horace Mann Auditorium, Bridgewater State University USA; Guitar and Vietnamese Traditional Orchestra, 2012, Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music.
  17. Prelude (2014) Premiere: Guitar & Percussions, 2014, Glebe Town Hall Sydney.
  18. Gods of the Highlands (2010). Premiere: Solo Guitar (2010) Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of Music; Guitar and Percussion Instruments, 2010, Horace Mann  Auditorium, Bridgewater State University.
  19. White Bird (2012). Premiere: Guitar and Vietnamese Traditional Orchestra, 2012, Ho  Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music.
  20. Tears of a Puppy (2013). Premiere: Solo Guitar, 2014, Exhibition Centre Ho Chi Minh  City.
  21. Dawn of the Mountain Forest (2013). Premiere: Guitar & Percussion Instruments,  2014, Exhibition Centre Ho Chi Minh City.
  22. Heart of the Ocean (2014). Premiere: Guitar & Percussion Instruments, 2014, Glebe  Town Hall Sydney.
  23. Euphoria (2014). Premiere: Guitar & Buddhist bells, 2014, Glebe Town Hall Sydney.

Biography

SELECTED PERFORMANCES 

2018

  • January 5: Guihangtar Music Recital, Hoa Sen University.
  • January 7: Crossing Beyond, Old Compass Cafe, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • January 12: Infinite Echoes, HCMC Conservatory of Music.
  • February 24: Inked Wings, Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach, Sydney.

2017

  • October 11 : Crossing Beyond, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

2016 

  • October 14: Guihangtar CD Launch Concert, Gleebooks Sydney.
  • October 16: Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Music, The Elder Hall, The University  of Adelaide.

2015 

  • May 28: Art of Sound Concert, The Playhouse, The University of Western Sydney.
  • September 23: Dawn of the Mountain Forest, Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts.
  • September 24: Guihangtar in concert, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth  Massachusetts.
  • September 26: Concert for Nepal, Salon 261 Boston.

2014 

  • January 3 and 4: Call of the Mountain Forest, Convention and Exhibition Centre, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • July 10: Dawn of the Mountain Forest, Aerial UTS Function Centre The University of  Technology Sydney.
  • July 20: Concert for a Gentleman – celebrating Larry Sitsky’s 80th Birthday, Glebe  Town Hall, Sydney.
  • July 26: Sydney Encore, Macauley Lecture Theatre, The University of New South  Wales.

2013 

  • January 4: Music Together, Ho  Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music.
  • January 4 and 5: Highland Dreaming, The Museum of Fine Arts, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • January 5: Biểu diễn nghệ thuật cuối tuần, Municipal Theater, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • January 11: Music & Visual Arts for Nature, Cafe Thứ 7, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • April 13: Ambience from the Vietnamese Highlands, The University of Technology.
  • October 7: Guitar as the expressive medium in performing arts, Hong Kong Academy  of Performing Arts.
  • November 20: GuiHANGtar: Rooted in Tradition, Molded in Innovation , Queensland  Conservatorium, World Forum on Music 2013.

2012 

  • January 7: Music Interchange, Ho  Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music.
  • December 2: Australian guitar music with Vietnamese cultural influences, The  University of Auckland.

2011 

  • January 7: Australian-American collaboration: contemporary music inspired by  Vietnamese music of the highlands, Ho  Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music.
  • January 8: Biểu diễn nghệ thuật cuối tuần, Municipal Theater, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • October 13: GuiHANGtar in concert, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
  • October 18: GuiHANGtar Duo, Bridgewater State University.
  • December 3: Vietnamese Gong culture in contemporary compositions, The  University of Western Australia, PERTH 

2010 

  • April 10: Vietnamese Gong culture in contemporary guitar music, The Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
  • August 31: A New Voice, The Australian National University. 
  • September 7 and 8: Gillawarna Festival of Performing Arts, Bankstown Town Hall.
  • October 3: A Musical Triangle: Australia, France & Vietnam, Centre Mandapa, PARIS
  • October 12: GuiHANGtar, Bridgewater State University.
  • October 16: Colours of the Far East, KAG Art Hall, Seoul.
  • October 22: World Music Concert, The Australian National University.

 

Research Interests

SELECTED VIDEO & SOUND LINKS

Dawn of the Mountain Forest
https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/dawn-of-the-mountain-forest

Highland Dreaming 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXxCYU145Us&list=PL2H-rg1Yd--P4zP2HNyub1XR83HMjZQKJ&index=13

Angel  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/5896/1460/files/10.mp3?v=1650517925

Poem for Saigon https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/5896/1460/files/11_8756e92f-9140-4b7b-b7ca-a99a5c23eb93.mp3?v=1650517956

My First Love  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/5896/1460/files/12.mp3?v=1650517956

Etude Romantique  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/5896/1460/files/14.mp3?v=1650517956

Destiny  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/5896/1460/files/13.mp3?v=1650517956

Forever  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/5896/1460/files/15.mp3?v=1650517956

Memories of Saigon 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL_HlxCKhX0&list=PL2H-rg1Yd--OqGymBc-XznTY_Y4s6OeOU&index=11

Guihangtar Live at Bridgewater State University Massachusetts USA  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kxslD8N_Q

Guihangtar Live in Vietnam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNflKhi6Qxs

Piano Poems 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP5LJT3D0J8&list=PL2H-rg1Yd--OtIV-QwaU4AJyK5Y0d5zZn&index=35

Song of the Nightingale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xCbUhTyz18

Prelude BWV 1007  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a41GziNAC1M

Song of the South  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFgCroZNsl0

Call of the Mountain Forest
https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/call-of-the-mountain-forest-1

White Bird  https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/white-bird

Sunset  https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/sunset

Prelude & Gods of the Highlands https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/prelude-gods-of-the-highlands

Moonlight https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/moonlight

Euphoria https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/euphoria

Come Together https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/come-together

Nocturne  https://soundcloud.com/guihangtar/nocturne

Gillawarna Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgjskfobRbA