Music is a healing 'medicine'.

Báo Đại Đoàn Kết•04/03/2024

1. Musician Trong Luu's real name is Nguyen Trong Luu. I have visited his hometown many times, Cu Khoi ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi , a place where the old village nestled at the foot of the dike, day and night listening to the gentle sound of the Red River waves lapping against the shore – a place so full of emotion. In 1978, after finishing high school, the young Nguyen Trong Luu, then only 17 years old, passed the entrance exam to the Military Medical University (now the Military Medical Academy). He said that out of over a hundred students in that class, the vast majority were soldiers who passed the entrance exam; the number of high school students was not very large.

Nguyen Trong Luu became a soldier by "having" to take the university entrance exam because he was not yet 18 years old. After 6 years of studying at the school, like other newly graduated doctors, the young military doctor Nguyen Trong Luu was assigned to the border. He worked at Treatment Team 39 of the 30th Supply Depot, stationed in Dien Bien Phu town (now Dien Bien Phu City) in Lai Chau province.

Once the two brothers had become close, I asked him, "Knowing that Trong Luu comes from a family with a musical background, why didn't you follow in your father's footsteps?" Musician Trong Luu smiled without saying anything, picked up his guitar, and played a piece. Looking at the image of the military doctor calmly playing the guitar, I suddenly realized that music truly helps to relieve stress and busyness. Perhaps playing music is when the soul is at its most peaceful.

He is the son of musician Trong Loan, the author of the song "The People of Chau Yen Shoot Down Airplanes," a song that mischievous high school students like us enthusiastically sang: "Listen to the babbling stream rejoicing in this victory/ Our village has just made a great contribution by shooting down American planes... A ha...".

Back then, whenever I sang, I felt a longing to grow up quickly so I could join the army and achieve something like the female militia members in the Northwest region. Therefore, from a young age, Nguyen Trong Luu lived with music. The musician recounted: “When I was little, my father enrolled me in piano lessons taught by Mr. Hoang My. To be honest, at that time I only went to learn to play the piano for fun; I didn't have the concept of learning to play the piano to make a profession and pursue a career in music.”

It is known that when he first entered the Military Medical University, the student brought with him only a meager musical background from his family and from his piano lessons. However, it was this very musical foundation that encouraged him to participate in the school's artistic activities. Composer Trong Luu stated that the first song he composed was "Proud to be a Student of the Military Medical University" in 1980, and his stage name, Trong Luu, was born from that. That first song also opened the way for him to continuously write songs until now.

Doctor Nguyen Trong Luu giving a lecture to graduate students. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

2. Recalling old memories, musician Trong Luu recounted that in 1987, after his unit completed its mission of protecting the northern border and was disbanded, he left the western border region with his Third-Class Military Merit Medal and was transferred to work at the Rehabilitation Department of Military Hospital 108.

It was at this hospital that the young, enthusiastic doctor threw himself into his work and diligently pursued further education to improve his professional skills. He successively received his PhD in 2001, the title of Associate Professor in 2009, and the title of Distinguished Physician in 2010. I congratulated him, saying, "You've achieved tremendous success in your medical career. But what about your musical career?"

Actively pursuing his professional studies and enthusiastically participating in cultural and artistic activities, musician Trong Luu recounted that during his student years, he won awards every year for his song compositions at the Mass Arts Festival. In 1981, the Military Medical University's Arts Team participated in the General Department of Logistics' Arts Festival and won first prize with the opening song titled "Spring Seasons Following the Party," composed by student Nguyen Trong Luu.

The musician confided: "Whatever happens, music is in my blood. I was born into an environment filled with sounds and emotions. Therefore, after my professional work hours, I pick up my guitar to compose, to maintain my emotional flow, and to feel more love and faith in my work and life."

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Composer Trong Luu is a member of the Vietnam Musicians Association and the Hanoi Music Association. In 2019, he received the "Annual Award" from the Vietnam Musicians Association for his song "Crossing the Thirsty Region". To date, he has composed over a hundred songs, notably: "Mother's Lullaby", "Ocean and Islands", "The National Flag in the East Sea", "Mother Calls My Name", "Remembering Mother While Crossing the Ferry", "There Are Kind Hearts", and his song "Glory to the Heroic 108 Hospital", which has become the traditional song of this leading military hospital.

3. The songs composed by musician Trong Luu often focus on themes of soldiers, homeland, and mother. He frequently reads poems published in the Army Literature and Arts Magazine.

This is also the magazine where his works were published. Finding good poems in the Army Literature and Arts Magazine helped him "sing his songs." It is known that this magazine has also repeatedly awarded the Outstanding Work of the Year prize to songs by composer Nguyen Trong Luu, such as "Mother's Lullaby" and "The Thousand Trees Sing a Lullaby for You."

Listening to musician Trong Luu's story, I suddenly remembered the song "The National Flag in the East Sea" that he wrote in 2014. He recounted: "That day, as usual, I picked up the newly printed issue of the Army Literature and Arts Magazine to read. I came across the poem 'There is a national flag in the East Sea' by poet Nguyen Trong Van."

The author's first and middle names not only matched mine, but more importantly, the poem instilled in me a heroic resonance with the lines: "The national flag flies far/ In the East Sea, like the heart of a soldier/ Blood may be shed, but the red color remains intact/ The homeland proudly flies in the vast ocean/ The national flag is in our hearts/ Blood mixes with the blue sea, blood harmonizes with life/ The country is proud once more/ The national flag will forever fly." And so, the majestic melody resonated in my head, I quickly grabbed my guitar, and the song was born.

The song "The National Flag in the East Sea," composed by musician Trong Luu, was quickly arranged and recorded by the Arts and Culture Department of Vietnam Television, and performed by People's Artist Quoc Hung, resonated on Vietnam Television and several other television stations.

I asked further about his views on music, and musician Trong Luu remained silent for a few seconds before reaching for his guitar. He played a short piece of music before answering: "When I was still in school, and especially when I worked on the border, I realized that music, and of course songs, are very useful. Many times, when studying or working professionally was stressful, I would pick up my guitar, compose, and sing songs to help me relax."

"That makes sense!" I thought to myself. A doctor's job is to heal the sick and save lives, and on that delicate boundary, songs bring hope and inspiration to complete the work. When a doctor takes advantage of their precious free time to engage with music, it truly is an incredibly beneficial spiritual remedy.

I changed the subject: "Since you're composing songs regularly, could you tell us a little about your professional achievements?" The musician, who was also a doctor at the time, Nguyen Trong Luu, gave a brief answer, saying that he had led numerous scientific research projects, sometimes at the Institute level, sometimes at the Ministry level, and sometimes at the State level.

At every level, those scientific topics have been highly regarded. Not to mention the more than one hundred scientific papers he has published. He also lectures at the Military Medical Academy, Hanoi Medical University, and even at Military Hospital 108. Currently, he is the Vice President of the Vietnam Rehabilitation Association.

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