A time when singing drowned out the sound of bombs

( Quang Ngai Newspaper) - 60 years have passed, but the memories of a time when songs and singing were used as weapons to fight the enemy and save the country have never faded in the minds of the officers, actors, and staff of the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe.

Unforgettable memories

For more than half a month now, Mr. Truong Quang Tuan (77 years old), former Director of the Quang Ngai City Cultural Center, currently Head of the Liaison Committee of the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe, has been busy preparing to organize a meeting to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe (June 8, 1964 - June 8, 2024). Looking through black and white photos of his comrades and teammates from the past, Mr. Tuan told us about his colleagues and their profound memories.

Mr. Truong Quang Tuan talks about his comrades through photos he still keeps as souvenirs.

Mr. Truong Quang Tuan talks about his comrades through photos he keeps as souvenirs.

Mr. Tuan joined the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe in 1967. At that time, he was a versatile actor, because he could sing Bài Chòi, act in plays, dance and play some musical instruments such as guitar and mandolin. Mr. Tuan said that the mission of the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe was to organize performances for events such as conferences, congresses, serving the people and soldiers. Each performance trip usually lasted from 3 to 6 months. They went to Mo Duc and Duc Pho districts, then to Binh Son, Son Tinh, up to the mountainous districts of Tra Bong and Son Ha... The troupe mainly traveled on foot and through the forest to avoid detection by the enemy. Each person had to carry military equipment, including weapons including guns and grenades, weighing about 40kg when moving from one location to another.

After the country's reunification, the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe merged with the Binh Dinh Liberation Art Troupe to form the Nghia Binh Song and Dance Troupe. In 1977, the Nghia Binh Song and Dance Troupe was split into two troupes: the Nghia Binh People's Song and Dance Troupe and the Nghia Binh Folk Song and Drama Troupe. In 1985, the Nghia Binh Province People's Song and Dance Troupe was renamed the Chim Yen Song and Dance Troupe. In 1989, Quang Ngai province was re-established, the troupe was separated and moved to Quang Ngai with the name Quang Ngai Song and Dance Troupe, later Quang Ngai Ethnic Song and Dance Troupe. In 2020, the Ethnic Song and Dance Troupe was merged with the Provincial Cultural and Art Center.

During the period of 1967 - 1975, Mr. Tuan and his comrades in the Art Troupe performed hundreds of shows throughout the liberated areas of the province. During that time, there were unforgettable memories. Mr. Tuan said that around 1971, the troupe came to perform for the people in Tinh Hiep commune (Son Tinh). Somehow, people from everywhere, even from Tu Nghia district, came in large numbers. The performance area was packed, they even overflowed onto the stage. That time, we did not have any space to perform for the people, so we had to apologize to the people and make an appointment for another time. Or like one time when we were performing in Binh Tri commune (Binh Son), at 9am, while the troupe was performing, the enemy discovered us and sent planes to hover, forcing us to move immediately to avoid bombs. Because it was so unexpected, it caused a funny and sad situation.

“When the plane was flying overhead, we didn’t have time to change into our performance costumes, so some of us were wearing suits, others were in costume and just ran into the village. People were scared when they saw us running in that state,” Mr. Tuan said with a laugh.

Silent sacrifice

60 years ago, on June 8, 1964, at Chi stream, Hanh Tin commune (now Hanh Tin Dong commune, Nghia Hanh district), the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command established the Quang Ngai Liberation Army Art Troupe. When it was first established, the troupe had 12 members, led by comrade Khuong The Hung, along with 2 professional officers and 9 actors and musicians. At that time, the troupe performed art programs and marched to perform for the military and civilians at the base and some liberated areas.

Members of the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe met to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding. Photo: TL

In August 1965, the Quang Ngai Liberation Army Art Troupe was transferred to the Quang Ngai Provincial Party Committee, and the Propaganda Department was assigned to directly direct and build the troupe. From here, the troupe was renamed the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe. As a unit of singing, dancing, music, and drama, each actor had to learn from each other to be able to perform many different genres. During the operation, sometimes they gathered, sometimes they dispersed into groups. Each shock team had 6-7 people, but still ensured to serve a program of 10-15 performances of all genres of singing, dancing, music, and drama. During the operation during the war, cadres, actors, and musicians often suffered from hunger, lack of clothing, malaria, and lack of performance costumes... Not only that, many times they had to perform under artillery fire. There were 11 members of the troupe who sacrificed their lives at the age of eighteen or twenty.

With its great contributions, in 1972, the Quang Ngai Liberation Art Troupe was honored to receive the Third Class Liberation Medal from the State in the resistance war against the US to save the country. Many cadres and actors of the troupe were awarded medals and titles.

Article and photos: XUAN THIEN

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