Phan Huynh Dieu's music lives on through the ages.

MASTER OF POETRY

Reviewing the career of the late composer Phan Huỳnh Điểu, Associate Professor and Doctor of Music Thế Bảo assessed him as a talented composer, a master of setting poems to music, creating many beautiful songs that we have enjoyed. In August 1971, he set the poem "Bóng cây Kơ-nia" to music, which Măng Thị Hội sang with resounding success. Also in 1971, he set Dương Hương Ly's (Bùi Minh Quốc) love poem to music, creating the beautiful song "Cuộc đời vẫn đẹp sao ," and later set Bùi Công Minh's " Ngày và đêm" to music, creating a lyrical march.

Young singers performed songs by composer Phan Huynh Dieu at the seminar.

In 1973, Phan Huynh Dieu set to music Nong Quoc Chan's "Remembering," and especially Thuy Bac's "Threads of Memory, Threads of Love ." In 1978, he successfully set Hoai Vu's poem "You're at the Beginning of the River, I'm at the End ," and in 1983, he set Tran Hoai Thu's "At Both Ends of Nostalgia " to music. Particularly noteworthy are Xuan Quynh's "Boat and Sea" and "Autumn Love Letter ," which the composer Phan Huynh Dieu once confided to many artists, including Xuan Quynh and Luu Quang Vu, at house number 96 Hue Street ( Hanoi ). He was very happy that Xuan Quynh had heard him set these two poems to music.

Composer Thế Bảo analyzed that Phan Huỳnh Điểu himself composed excellent lyrics (like the song "Những ánh sao đêm "), but he always understood that reading poetry would give him musical inspiration, and he only chose poems with lyrical qualities, poems with easily understandable and evocative verses. He ignored poems that were mysterious, deeply philosophical, and had multiple layers of meaning. Phan Huỳnh Điểu also always incorporated folk music. "Bóng cây Kơ-nia" carries the sounds of the Central Highlands, "Sợi nhớ sợi thương" has the folk music of Nghệ Tĩnh, " Thuyền và biển" and "Thư tình cuối mùa thu" have elements of Northern Vietnamese folk music…

“Phan Huynh Dieu always imitated and repeated in his musical settings of poetry. Music repeats to remember and to renew, to forget and then repeat again. When poetry doesn't repeat, Phan Huynh Dieu will repeat it himself… Today, we study Phan Huynh Dieu's art of setting poetry to music, and from that, understand the value of songs set to poetry that have stood the test of time,” said musician The Bao.

"AT BOTH ENDS OF NOSTALGIA"

At the seminar, in addition to presentations clarifying the "great and monumental creative career" of Phan Huynh Dieu (in the words of musician Dinh Tham), musicians and his family also shared touching stories. Musician Van Thu Bich assessed that, dubbed "the golden bird of Vietnamese music ," Phan Huynh Dieu has, for more than half a century, etched himself in the hearts of many generations of the public with numerous famous songs. "Throughout his life, hundreds of his songs, from revolutionary songs to love songs, all possess a very unique characteristic that is still preserved by later generations," Ms. Bich said.

Composer Phan Hong Ha, son of the late composer Phan Huynh Dieu, shared touching thoughts at the seminar.

Composer Phan Hong Minh broke down in tears when recalling memories of his father. Mr. Minh said that, being a gentle man who disliked harshness even with those who sang his songs incorrectly, composer Phan Huynh Dieu always wished for singers to be accurate in both lyrics and music when performing his songs, and that they "should read the poem before singing." Mr. Minh recounted that before his death in June 2015, his father gave him a request: to write a piece of music with the melody of the National Guard , with a solemn, slow, and majestic feel, as a unique farewell to life.

“My father wanted it that way, but I didn’t dare write it. I had a feeling that if I wrote it, he would pass away, so I hesitated. But human strength is limited, and then my father passed away… I realized his wish hadn’t come true. Afterwards, I did do it, but it was actually a regret. On the evening of November 9th, we will sing the song 'Life Is Still Beautiful,' but I will incorporate the distinctive features of the song ' The National Guard .' It’s like a farewell from a son, fulfilling his father’s wish,” Mr. Minh said emotionally. Musician Phan Hong Ha (the late musician’s son) also choked up: “I feel like my father is somewhere witnessing what we are doing. We miss our father and mother as if we are at opposite ends of the ocean of longing. I hope everyone will always remember my father, remember his songs.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Chau continued: “Composer Phan Huynh Dieu would be happy to know that his descendants and the public still remember him. His love will live on forever. His songs will live on in his place and will encourage us to live better, to love life and people more. His legacy will also inspire musicians to continue the musical path that his generation has built.”

Da Nang names a street after Phan Huynh Dieu.

Today (November 9th), as part of the series of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Phan Huynh Dieu, the People's Committee of Da Nang City held a ceremony to name a street after Phan Huynh Dieu in Hoa Quy Ward (Ngu Hanh Son District). In the evening, an art program titled "Composer Phan Huynh Dieu – Love Remains" was held.

On the afternoon of November 8th, an exhibition titled "Phan Huynh Dieu – The Bird Flying Home" opened at the Da Nang Museum of Fine Arts, showcasing 15 paintings, 8 sketches, 1 sculpture, and 53 photographs depicting his life.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/am-nhac-phan-huynh-dieu-song-mai-voi-cuoc-doi-185241108223445728.htm