Songs of musician Doan Chuan are all love diaries.

Music lovers of Văn Cao, Đoàn Chuẩn, and Từ Linh will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the music of these composers at the "Thiên Thai" concert on the evening of April 27th at the Hanoi Grand Opera House. Prior to the performance, composer Đoàn Đính, son of composer Đoàn Chuẩn, shared many anecdotes behind some of the late composer's works.

The composers Van Cao, Doan Chuan, and Tu Linh

In most of his compositions, musician Doan Chuan often signed his works with the pseudonym Doan Chuan - Tu Linh. There are many anecdotes about the name Doan Chuan - Tu Linh. Some believe that Tu Linh was Doan Chuan's close friend, who wrote the music, the lyrics, and signed the name together.

However, musician Doan Dinh said that once, guitarist Van Vuong told him: "Dinh, my father told me, 'Tu Linh' is the first and last name of Thanh Hang (TH)." Thanh Hang was the woman musician Doan Chuan loved deeply, so he may have used that method to legitimize his lover's name.

"My father didn't tell me those things. But anyway, Doan Chuan - Tu Linh is already a very beautiful name, so people shouldn't delve into finding out who Doan Chuan or Tu Linh are. My father only told us: 'My children, all of my compositions are my love diary'" - composer Doan Dinh recounted.

Speaking of Thanh Hang, his father's former muse, Doan Dinh shared two more anecdotes linking this beautiful woman to his father's works.

Composer Doan Chuan and his wife and eldest daughter.

"My father loved my mother and lived with her his whole life, but only wrote two songs for her, while he loved a famous and beautiful singer in Hanoi at that time named Thanh Hang and wrote six songs for her."

My mother, upon hearing the news from Hai Phong, immediately drove to Hanoi . Everyone expected a major confrontation, but instead, my mother calmly asked, "I'm asking you honestly, do you love Mr. Doan Chuan?" Thanh Hang replied that she did. My mother continued, "If you love Mr. Chuan 1, I love him 10 times more. I'm willing to give him up to you. Since you've fallen in love with my son, Mr. Doan Chuan, then try to love his six children as well."

"So Thanh Hang woke up from her dream, returned all the letters between them to my mother, and tore up the songs my father had given her. That's why my father wrote the song 'The Torn Song.' Later, upon hearing that Thanh Hang was getting married, my father wrote and sent her the song 'Falling Leaves in the Evening.' Upon receiving my father's song, she cried and decided not to get married anymore," composer Doan Dinh recounted.

Doan Dinh also recounted that his father was a high-class playboy from Northern Vietnam, owning six cars and having his own gas station in front of the house to serve him. Inside the house, he hired builders to create a private room filled with balloons, and if any deflated, he would have his family buy replacements to fill the room for entertaining friends. Guests could freely enjoy music, fruit, imported wine, and more.

Singer Ngoc Cham and the couple, musician Van Thao and his wife, son of musician Van Cao.

Explaining the decision to combine the works of the late composers Van Cao and Doan Chuan - Tu Linh in one concert, singer Ngoc Cham, the program's production director, said: "The two late composers shared certain common points: They were two contemporary composers: Van Cao (1923 - 1995) and Doan Chuan - Tu Linh (1924 - 2001) had the same creative period and produced immortal works from 1939 - 1970."

Combining the works of these two composers is an opportunity to revive youthful memories for many generations of audiences. Both composers are renowned and talented giants of Vietnamese modern music. Their works are full of philosophical and intellectual depth, yet also romantic and elegant, especially their lyrical pieces such as: Truong Chi, Suoi Mo, Thien Thai, Gui Gio Cho May Ngan Bay, Thu Quyen Ru... Moreover, the combined name "Van Cao - Doan Chuan - Tu Linh" sounds very rhyming, poetically stylized, easy to read, easy to remember, and easily touches the hearts of listeners.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ca-khuc-cua-nhac-si-doan-chuan-deu-la-nhat-ky-tinh-yeu-196240407131813375.htm