Born and raised at the foot of Bai Tho Mountain, on the shores of Ha Long Bay, musician Xuan Nhat, Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians Association branch in Quang Ninh province, has always had a passion for songs about the sea, islands, borders, and border guards, spreading melodies and lyrics to celebrate and build a beautiful and prosperous homeland.
Talking about this aspect of his songwriting, musician Xuan Nhat shared:
+ Since my time as a border guard in Cua Ong, I have actively participated in the unit's cultural and artistic activities. Later, my passion for music burned even brighter when I heard singers perform songs about Quang Ninh. After joining the Quang Ninh Literature and Arts Association, I had many opportunities to travel with my friends and fellow soldiers to various islands of Quang Ninh to compose music. I love the sea, and it seems to be the main theme in my compositions.
- Can the musician name a few songs from that main body of work?
There are many. There are easily dozens of articles about the sea and islands in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong , and Thanh Hoa, such as: "The Gateway to the Western Region," "Quan Lan, the Forest Wharf This Afternoon," "Swallows Flying," "Ha Long City," "Do Son, I'm Waiting," "The Girl from Co To," "The Legend of Ha Long," "Electricity to the Island," "Singing Rocks in Thien Cung Cave," "Distant Islands, Remembering the Sea," "Youth on the Sea of Our Homeland." and most recently, "The Sea, the Waves, and You" ...
- Speaking of borders, besides maritime and island borders, we certainly cannot ignore works of art about land borders, can we?
That's right. I've written songs about the border region, such as: "The Song in the Border Forest," "Borderland Lullaby," "Border Guard Post," "By the Border Fire," and "Waiting for You, Border Girl." I also have many other songs about Mong Cai and Binh Lieu, and most recently, a song about Po Hen...
- It can be said that musical compositions about the sea and islands of Quang Ninh have formed a traditional trend. As the Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians Association branch in Quang Ninh province, how do you assess this issue?
There was a time when many central-level composers came to Quang Ninh to compose music, and later, quite a few of them became big names in the national music scene. They weren't born and raised in Quang Ninh, but they laid a solid foundation for the development of music in this region. Many of these composers have excellent compositions about the sea and islands of Quang Ninh, such as: composer Hoang Quy with "Moonlit Night on Ha Long Bay," composer Tran Chung with "On the Northeast Sea and Sky," composer Nguyen Cuong with "Sea Chant," "Village Pavilion by the Sea," "I Come Here to Listen to the Waves," and "Cruising on the Waves of Ha Long," composer Tan Huyen with "Ha Long at Night," composer Xuan Giao with "Sunrise in Ha Long," composer Duc Minh with "The Stirring Waves of Van Don" and "Afternoon in Ha Long," composer Vu Thiet with "Epic of the Sea" and "The Song of the Waves" (both songs set to poems by poet Trinh Cong Loc)...
Near the This, The composers from Quang Ninh have achieved great success in their work. When Expressing the theme of the sea and islands through diverse forms and rich artistic exploration, such as songs. section “Nostalgia for the Distant Sea” and “Memories of the Sea” by composer Vu Viet Hong, “Sea Pillar” by composer Do Hoa An, “Rain Coming Up from Under the Sea” by composer The Phung, “Night on the Island” by composer Le Nguyen Them...
I am also honored, along with composers Le Nguyen Them and Do Hoa An, to have their works included in the collection of 100 songs about Vietnam's seas and islands published by Dihavina Music Publishing House. Composer Le Dang Ve has the work "From Ha Long Dreaming of Thang Long" included in the anthology "1,000 Years of Thang Long". Composer Vu Viet Hong released the DVD "The East Sea Rises" and the album "Early Ha Long". Several composers from Quang Ninh have been sent to Truong Sa to compose, while others have won music awards such as: the song "Mother Au Co Sea" by composer Vu Duc Tao won the encouragement prize of the Vietnam Musicians Association, the song "Youth on the Homeland Sea" by composer Xuan Nhat won third prize in the "This is Vietnam's Sea" competition, and "Sea Pillar" by composer Do Hoa An won the A prize of the Vietnam Musicians Association.
- Mr. Composer, it seems that composing songs about the sea and islands is a strength of composers from Quang Ninh?
In Quang Ninh, musicians are more sensitive and easily moved by this theme because the province has a vast sea and many islands, and they have lived and been exposed to this environment for a long time. Therefore, when writing about the sea and islands, the songs of Quang Ninh musicians stand out from the works of other authors nationwide. Many songs have found their own unique life, such as: "Rowing on Ha Long Bay" by musician Do Hoa An, "Ha Long in Autumn" and "Keeping Ha Long Green Forever" by Le Nguyen Them... These songs also thrive partly thanks to their often expansive and vigorous lyrics that express the boundless expanse of the sea, such as: "Ha Long, the Sea of Memories" by musician Do Hoa An, "Ha Long Night" by musician Nguyen Thanh Long...
Several other composers, such as Le Huy Hoa, Ngoc Xuan, Xuan Quang, Ba Quang, Le Chi Phuc, and Dang Xuyen, have also experimented with new approaches to songs about the sea and islands. Some composers focus on lyrics and melodies while still incorporating modern elements, handling songs and harmonies with a fast tempo, breathing new life into them, and emphasizing vibrant rhythms. Perhaps the breadth and richness of the theme of the sea and islands have also led to a broader range of creative thinking, helping to break free from conventional approaches. This is why many works about the sea and islands in Quang Ninh have found their place in the current music scene.
- The border islands and seas are under the management of the border guards. Therefore, when writing about the border islands and seas, it's impossible not to mention the soldiers in green uniforms, isn't that right, Mr. Composer?
+ The song "Chiều biên giới" (Borderland Evening) by composer Vũ Hiệp Bình is also very noteworthy. The author of the song is Major General, composer Vũ Hiệp Bình, former Deputy Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command of Quảng Ninh province. He has many valuable works in his repertoire of songs about border guards in particular and the image of soldiers in general. The song "Chiều biên giới," composed in 1999, was successfully performed by People's Artist Thanh Xuân, a native of Quảng Ninh, and won third prize from the Vietnam Musicians Association and was voted one of the 10 most popular songs on the theme of "Soldiers and Revolutionary War." The song is considered a "declaration" of love for homeland and country through poetry and music.
Also There is another song called "Borderland Evening" by composer Duc Mieng, along with the song "Quan Ho in Distant Islands," which he composed during Tet in 1980, while on a trip with the Ha Bac Quan Ho Folk Song Troupe to the islands in the Northeast sea region of Quang Ninh province. Composer Do Hoa An has "The Soldier Standing Guard on Co To Island," and composer Vu Duc Tao has "Border Guard Soldier Going to Sea"...
- Who are the most dedicated writers about border guards in Quang Ninh, Mr. Musician?
Previously, it was Vu Hiep Binh, and later Vu Duc Tao. They were both officers and musicians who dedicated their lives to the border guards and the Border Guard Command of Quang Ninh province. To date, musician Vu Hiep Binh has passed away. Only musician Vu Duc Tao remains, still diligently composing.
Thank you, musician, for the interview!
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