Overseas Vietnamese Choir performs works by musician Hoang Van in the 1960s. Photo: VNA

On this occasion, many Vietnamese people in France, especially members of the Homeland Choir, shared with VNA reporters in France their deep feelings and pride in the talented musician of the nation.

Sharing with VNA reporters in France, Ms. Ngan Ha, who is in charge of the Homeland Choir, could not hide her emotions when recalling her story with Hoang Van's music . She left Vietnam with her parents to France when she was only 12 years old. At that time, her father was the leader of the patriotic overseas Vietnamese movement and also the conductor of the overseas Vietnamese choir.

She confided: "By chance, when I was 12 years old, it was Tet, the Overseas Vietnamese Association organized the choir 'Our Fatherland' with 5 chapters and I sang the children's choir. At that time, I only sang like that. But when I founded the Homeland Choir, I found out that 'Reminiscences' by Mr. Hoang Van was in those 5 chapters."

And the miracle is that nearly 50 years later, she had the opportunity to recreate that same song "Reminiscence" with the Homeland Choir, creating a complete circle in her musical life.

In preserving and spreading Hoang Van's music in the Vietnamese community in France, it is impossible not to mention the important role of the Homeland Choir. Established in April 2009, the Choir is a gathering place for people who love revolutionary music, becoming a valuable cultural bridge, helping generations of Vietnamese in France immerse themselves in the immortal melodies of their homeland. Up to now, there have been 4 generations of overseas Vietnamese, from children to adults, singing the song "Reminiscence". But the proudest achievement is performing this work with the Symphony Orchestra of the Rouen Conservatory.

The Homeland Choir and overseas Vietnamese children performed the work "Reminiscence" by musician Hoang Van with the Rouen Choir in 2016. Photo: VNA

When the first notes of the choral piece "Reminiscence" rang out in the solemn space of the Rouen Conservatory in 2016, no one could have imagined that it would be one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Vietnamese community in France. Ninety people from different generations - from children to the elderly, from long-time overseas Vietnamese to domestic students studying here - joined the Rouen Symphony Orchestra in France to recreate one of the masterpieces of musician Hoang Van. And now, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of his birth, along with the good news that UNESCO has inscribed the musician's collection in the Memory of the World Register, those memories come flooding back to the memories of Vietnamese people in France.

The Homeland Choir performs the work "Night Scene" by musician Hoang Van. Photo: Thu Ha - VNA correspondent in France

"It is unimaginable that in France we could recreate a large choral piece, 'Reminiscence' by musician Hoang Van, combining overseas Vietnamese, children, adults, and even domestic students studying and singing with the Symphony Orchestra of the Rouen Conservatory with a total of 90 participants," Ms. Ngan Ha recalled with emotion.

For Ms. Ngan Ha, the song "Reminiscence" is not only a musical work but also a childhood memory and national pride. "The song is less than 12 minutes long, but it is both powerful and profound, making me love my homeland more, understand the history and sacrifices of the nation more. The most special thing is that the song "Reminiscence" contains a whole memory, passed down from generation to generation, and is a bridge connecting overseas Vietnamese with their homeland."

Many overseas Vietnamese have sung Hoang Van's music since they were young, and now, at the age of "thất thập cổ lai hy", they still love Hoang Van's music. Ms. Pham Thi Luan, an overseas Vietnamese over 70 years old, a member of the Homeland Choir, said that since she was a child, she sang children's songs by musician Hoang Van and until now still has special affection for his musical works, especially songs about localities and professions such as " Quang Binh que ta oi", "Toi la Nguoi tho lo"... For Ms. Luan, it was the love for the country that was nurtured in him that helped him create those immortal works, and musician Hoang Van is one of the great trees of the Revolutionary music genre, along with Do Nhuan, Huy Du, Tran Hoan and many other musicians who have contributed a lot to Vietnamese music.

A practice session of the Homeland Choir with works by musician Hoang Van. Photo: Thu Ha - VNA correspondent in France

The special affection of the Vietnamese community in France for musician Hoang Van is not only expressed through the elderly but also spreads strongly to the younger generation. Mr. Tran Duc Tuan shared the perspective of the youth: "For young people like us, musician Hoang Van is a musician with very special works in the Vietnamese music treasure. Since we were young, our childhood has been associated with works such as 'I love my school', 'The song of the people's teacher', songs that always remind us of our teachers, friends, and school. And when we grow up, we also have the opportunity to be exposed to many other works by musician Hoang Van, songs praising the beauty of the homeland, of different professions, and songs that express the love of Vietnamese people for their country, for their homeland".

Music Doctor Le Y Linh, daughter of musician Hoang Van, introduces her father's works. Photo: Thu Ha - VNA correspondent in France

According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Tien, Mr. Hoang Van is a very veteran musician who has experienced many historical periods of Vietnam, from the period of resistance against the French, to the period of resistance against the Americans and to the present. Reviewing classic songs such as "Chien Thang Dien Bien", "Ho Keo Phao" from the period of resistance against the French, or "Nguoi Chien Si Ay" in the resistance against the Americans, along with production propaganda works such as "Toi la nguoi do lo" and "Bai ca cong dung", Mr. Ngoc Tien said that "Hoang Van is a historical page throughout the Vietnamese revolution".

"For the younger generation, who have not directly experienced historical events, singing Hoang Van's music has become a way to immerse themselves in those things and feel more about the losses and sacrifices of our ancestors in the past, so that now we can live in independence and freedom," Ngoc Tien shared.

Ms. Mai Vu Hai Anh, a member of the Homeland Choir, expressed: "To me, musician Hoang Van is a great musician of Vietnamese music. His music is not only diverse and rich, but also tells profound stories about Vietnamese history. My feeling when singing Hoang Van's songs is a feeling of generosity, pride in the country and remembrance of the history of the homeland, the origin of the nation".

Musician Hoang Van's collection includes more than 700 musical works composed from 1951 to 2010, deeply reflecting the changes of the country and the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people through many historical periods. With a harmonious combination of European classical music and folk music, his works not only have high artistic value but are also valuable documents serving the research of culture, society and history of Vietnamese music. In recognition of his contributions, on April 10 in Paris, the UNESCO Executive Board unanimously agreed to include "The Collection of Musician Hoang Van" in the Memory of the World List, marking the first time a collection of Vietnamese music has been recognized as a World Documentary Heritage.

This good news is not only a great honor for the musician's family but also a source of pride for the entire nation, especially meaningful to Vietnamese people living far from home. Ms. Ngan Ha expressed her pride: "It is unimaginable that Mr. Hoang Van spent his entire life composing and creating so many songs, recounting the history and sacrifices of the country, creating a collection recognized by Unesco... This is a great pride and honor for Vietnam". Ms. Pham Thi Luan also shared emotionally: "The collection of Musician Hoang Van being included in UNESCO shows that the intelligence and stature of the Vietnamese people have reached the world. What a pride!"

The sincere sharing from the Vietnamese community in France, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of musician Hoang Van's birth, not only expressed deep affection for the talented musician but also showed the important role of music in preserving and transmitting the national cultural identity. Hoang Van's music has become a sacred bridge between the homeland and those living far away, between the past and the present, between generations. And now, with the recognition of UNESCO, those immortal melodies not only resonate in the hearts of Vietnamese people but are also recognized by the world as part of the world's cultural treasure, contributing to enriching the cultural heritage of all humanity.

Some musical works by musician Hoang Van. Photo: Thu Ha - VNA correspondent in France

As the author of the book "Musician Hoang Van - For the Future" about his father's life and career, music researcher Dr. Le Y Linh believes that not everywhere can a music industry like this be born. "We have patriotism, we worry about peace, about war, all of those things are reflected in the musician's soul to create these works."

With the hope that the Vietnamese community in France will not only enjoy Hoang Van's music but also have the mission of spreading these cultural values, musician Hoang Van's daughter expressed: "My greatest wish is to let overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese people in France and abroad know more about Hoang Van's works, know more about his love songs, instrumental works, and great works to foster more pride and diversity, the luck of Vietnamese culture".

According to baotintuc.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/nhac-hoang-van-cau-noi-viet-kieu-voi-que-huong-155994.html