|
|
The Four top Vietnamese musicians in 20th century
The
four leading musicians of Vietnam are the persons who have had
great influence on the development of the nation’s music. They can be considered the pioneers to lay the foundation
for Vietnamese modern music. All of them either had had great musical achievements, or
had their individual background mixed and integrated into the
whole nation’s history. Their works are valuable and highly
appreciated by generations in Vietnam.
Seven decades with their historical changes brought them different lives.
Luu
Huu Phuoc was a leader of the youth’s movement, therefore
he always had a tendency to associate his music with his
political tasks. Van Cao, meanwhile, is a
romantic artist, the author of great love songs. However, both
of them were the authors of the most important songs of the
country: Van Cao with the "National Anthem", "Ho
Chi Minh song", "Heading for Hanoi"; Luu Huu
Phuoc - “The call for the youth”, “Song of the leader”,
"Liberating the South”.
Nguyen
Xuan Khoat lived an intellectual, strict life while Do
Nhuan had a
instinctive, active and earthy life. Yet
both of the two are representatives of the modern music.
|
|
Among revolutionary artists, Luu Huu Phuoc
is considered as the greatest. For music researchers, he
is also ranked among the most distinguished leaders in
the movement of the New Music in the early 30s of the
20th century. Luu Huu Phuoc is a forefather and a master
in composing songs of youth and history themes.
Musically speaking, he has just stopped at Vietnam
zing European musical elements (mainly marches).
However, he has left us the most special marches that
Vietnamese have ever created.
But his greatest value is his role as a guide for
many other temporary famous artists. And the hearts of
the whole generation of revolutionary youth used to beat
as one with the military marches of Luu Huu Phuoc. |
|
|
Works:
Songs: Bach Dang River (Bach Dang Giang); Dien Hong
Congress (Hoi Nghi Dien Hong); Let's go (Len dang); Call
for youth (Tieng goi thanh nien); South East Asia (Dong
Nam A Chau); The age of 20 (Tuoi hai muoi); Song of
Liberation Army (Bai ca giai phong quan); Youth to be
ready (Thanh nien san sang); South Liberation (Giai
phong Mien Nam); Heading for Sai Gon (Tien ve Sai Gon)...
Operetta: Diamond Rabbit (Con tho ngoc)
|
|
Van Cao with his March Song (Tien Quan Ca) can be
considered one of the most celebrated musicians in
Vietnam’s modern music. Van Cao is a music genius, the
composer of a large number of songs which remain deep in
hearts of Vietnamese and have become the spiritual
treasure of Vietnamese generations. As he has much in
common with ordinary people in terms of taste of music,
his songs win the popularity of common people, no matter
they are songs or ballads.
|
|
As one of the pioneers of the romantic music in the 50s,
Van Cao is a typical example of musicians who follow the
Revolution. It is found in Van Cao's works that no
reasoning but the true love and affection is expressed.
Even march songs written by him could make one moved.
The emotion expression, the romance in his songs by no
means has effect on the humanity value of his songs. He
seemed to finish his music career right in the 1950s.
From the 1960s to the year of 1995 when he passed away,
he appeared to compose no songs of any kind. However,
one keeps fresh memory of Van Cao as in his last 10
years, he won the celebrity than ever and reached the
highest peak of success.
Major songs:
Sadness in late autumn (Buon tan thu), Distant melody
(Cung dan xa), Paradise (Thien thai), The coming spring
(Ben xuan), Dreamt stream (Suoi mo), Lonely autumn ( Thu
co lieu), Truong Chi, Thang Long march song (Thang Long
hanh khuc), Dong Da mound (Go Dong Da), Vietnamese
soldiers ( Chien si Viet Nam), March song (Tien Quan
Ca), Bac Son, Vietnamese workers (Cong nhan Viet Nam),
Lo river epic (Truong ca song Lo), My village (Lang toi),
Harvest time (Ngay mua), Heading for Hanoi (Tien ve Ha
Noi), Ho Chi Minh song (Ca ngoi Ho Chu Tich), etc.
|
|
He
is a great ideologist and aesthetic person. He is one of
the persons who laid foundation for the new concepts in
the field of music in Vietnam with the orientation to
modernize the Vietnamese music and to inherit the
quintessence of the traditional music. With deep and
comprehensive understanding of folk music, pop music and
intensive study of traditional ways of singing such Hat Ca Tru, Hat Chau Van, Hat Xam,
Hat Cheo... Khoat manages to keep out of influence of the European
way of playing music. He, however, do not compose music
much due to some subjective and objective reasons.
|
|
|
His music bears the expressiveness, the coherence, the
elegance and sometimes even sense of humor. It can be
found in his music the new emotions and melodies. In
comparison with the romantic melodies of the pre-war
music, he is said to reach far beyond the influence of
this kind of music conventionally considered the
obstacle to the development of the national culture. He
also succeeds in catch up with the development process
of the world modern music. The innovation in his lyrics
and composition techniques has made his music
disadvantageous when being popularized. However, as for
the musician circle, especially the later generation,
his style is influential to them who find great
encouragement from him for their composition when
working individually. Khoat worked and composed music
individually. He is not the one who is so popular but he
belongs the few people who is much concerned the
development of the Vietnamese national culture. He is as
well one of the few musicians who gain the admiration
and respect from young generations of musicians.
Major songs:
Dawn (Binh Minh), Colors of time (Mau thoi gian), The
elephant (Con voi), Bom (Thang Bom), Church’s bell (Tieng
chuong Nha Tho), Victory song (Hat mung bo doi chien
thang), In the appeal of Ho Chi Minh (Theo loi Bac goi),
etc.
Chorus:
Growing up (Ta da lon), Construction song (Ho kien
thiet), Cai river net (Vot song Cai)
Music composition:
Giong (Ong Giong), Son Tinh Thuy Tinh, and especially
Fireworks at exchanges (Tieng Phao Giao Luu),
Cuc-Truc-Tung-Mai for the traditional drum set.
|
|
Nhuan
is kind-hearted and plain person, which is shown in his
actions. He led a really humane life. He is very true to
his heart and his style by no means bears the flowery
cover. This musician in the true sense has contributed
to the Vietnamese music treasure a solid style.
Nhuan’s music can be contrasted with the florid and
superficial music which was very popular in
temporarily-occupied rural areas and did not die out
until the late 1920s. He is a born music composer and a
person closely related to the farming life and the
working class. Being much absorbed in the folk culture
in the Red river delta where he was born (exactly in Cam
Binh, Hai Hung), he achieved greater success than ever
in his music career.
|
|
It is found that his music sometimes appears rough but
equally charming. His tone seems to be unrealistic
sometimes but expresses both the extreme pride, which is
much the same as in folk music and the passionate for a
new life finish, which has taken much heart of thousands
of Vietnamese patriots. It can be seen from all his
music that he considers the music composition to be the
job requiring creativeness and constant improvement not
only to give birth to a new melody but also to bring
about changes in order to meet the demand of the
Vietnamese culture development. He can be regarded as
one of the musicians with the most significant
achievements in almost every sub-aspect of music
including vocal music, chamber music, and opera.
Major songs:
An afternoon in Con Dao prison (Chieu tu Con Dao),
Guerilla song (Du kich ca), In memory of the war base (Nho
chien khu), North Vietnam gunfire (Tieng sung Nam Bo),
Female music group (Doan nu nhac), Winter coat (Ao mua
dong), Thao river guerilla song (Du kich song Thao),
Long march (Hanh quan xa), On Him Lam hill (Tren doi Him
Lam), Dien Bien victory (Chien thang Dien Bien), Vietnam
- my homeland (Vietnam que huong toi), Fights when the
enemy attacks (Giac den nha danh), Road paving happily (Vui
mo duong), The enlisting ceremony drum (Trong hoi tong
quan), Heroic men and resourceful women (Trai anh hung
gai dam dang), Militiamen song (Hat mung cac cu dan quan),
In memory of Ho Chi Minh when planting trees (Trong cay
lai nho toi Nguoi), White-washer (Em tho quet voi), etc.
Musical plays:
Lady Sao (Co Sao), Sculptor (Nguoi tac tuong)
Operas:
Tay Nguyen music dance (Vu khuc Tay Nguyen) for the
violon and the orchestra.
|
|
| |
