Hanoi Radio placed 36 microphones around Ba Dinh Square to record the flag-raising ceremony.

The vinyl record "Sounds of Hanoi" contains classic songs about Hanoi, including the sound of the capital's air raid siren, the sound of trams, and especially the flag-raising ceremony at 6 am in Ba Dinh Square - an image that has been associated with the people of Hanoi for so long…

The "Sounds of Hanoi" vinyl record preserves the sounds associated with Hanoi over the past 70 years - Photo: Hanoi Radio.

The vinyl record "Sounds of Hanoi" was recently completed by Hanoi Radio and Television Station (Hanoi Station for short), commemorating the station's 70th anniversary, which also marks the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital.

Install 36 microphones to record the flag-raising ceremony.

Among the sounds recorded on the "Sounds of Hanoi" album, perhaps the most remarkable is the recording recreating the atmosphere of the flag-raising ceremony at 6:00 AM in Ba Dinh Square, located on side B. Sound engineer Nguyen Duy Nghia – who directly participated in the sound recording and mastering of the album – considers this a novel idea, as no other unit has ever done it before. "The most difficult part was recording on location in a very strict security environment. We had to accurately simulate the position and movement of the sound at the scene. In addition, the square has a very large area, so recreating the solemn and sacred atmosphere of the flag-raising ceremony with sound is not easy," he said. Duy Nghia had to use 36 microphones placed around Ba Dinh Square and required 16 technicians to operate those 36 microphones.

Audio recording of the flag-raising ceremony at 6 AM in Ba Dinh Square - Photo: Hanoi Radio

"We recreated the atmosphere of the flag-raising ceremony, from the marching footsteps of the honor guard to the sound of the flag fluttering, to the solemn and sacred atmosphere during the flag-saluting moment," he recalled. Nguyen Duy Nghia, a Southerner, had never had the opportunity to attend a flag-raising ceremony before. This was also his first time attending and hearing the national anthem in Ba Dinh Square. "That was the best national anthem I've ever heard, and I tried to include it on my vinyl record, 'The Sound of Hanoi'," the engineer said.

General Director of Hanoi Radio Station Nguyen Kim Khiem - Photo: Hanoi Radio Station

Preserving the sounds of Hanoi in a truly Hanoian way.

Hanoi Radio General Director Nguyen Kim Khiem shared, "The 'Sounds of Hanoi' record captures the sounds that have become a part of Hanoi's memory over the past 70 years." The vinyl record has two sides. Side A features songs that are "indispensable when mentioning Hanoi." These include "Marching Towards Hanoi," a song written even before October 10, 1954, showcasing the genius of composer Van Cao, and later becoming a source of pride for the people of Hanoi. There's also "People of Hanoi" by composer Nguyen Dinh Thi, embodying the most authentic values ​​and style of Hanoi; the symphony "Memories of Childhood" by Nguyen Huu Tuan, associated with Hanoi's difficult but pure years; and "Hanoi, Faith and Hope" by composer Phan Nhan, a classic song that Hanoians sing loudly whenever they face hardship. On side B, besides the flag-raising ceremony recording, there are also the Capital Air Defense Alert (which sounded during the 12 days and nights Hanoi fought against American planes), the Hanoi Tram Sound, the Hanoi Radio Theme Music from 1979, the Hanoi Radio Theme Music from 2024... Mr. Khiem said the disc was made in 6 months, recorded with investment and meticulous attention to detail to achieve the highest possible artistic quality. "Through this product, we hope to help those who love Hanoi relive memories and preserve the sounds of Hanoi for longer, in a very Hanoi way," he said, explaining the reason for the creation of the vinyl record and its name. Regarding its release format, the vinyl record was once a part of the cultural life of the capital. The vinyl record also once stored the first songs of Vietnam's revolutionary music . "At the present time, when digital music and digital media are dominant, vinyl records still hold a rather important place in the hearts of music lovers," the representative of the station added.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dai-ha-noi-dat-36-micro-quanh-quang-truong-ba-dinh-de-thu-am-le-thuong-co-20241012141822411.htm#content-2