On October 19, musician Nguyen Dinh Bang passed away at his home. He was 83 years old. His passing left deep sorrow in the hearts of his colleagues and generations of audiences.
He devoted almost his entire life to art, leaving behind many musical works, of which The Time of Red Flowers , composed from Thanh Tung's poem, became one of the most famous love songs. However, few people know that when he wrote that song in 1989, musician Nguyen Dinh Bang had never met the author of the poem.
Poet Thanh Tung and musician Nguyen Dinh Bang.
The poem "The Time of Red Flowers" by poet Thanh Tung was written around 1972, then set to music by musician Nguyen Dinh Bang.
More than 40 years have passed, but the lyrics "Every red flower season comes, flowers fall like rain..." still make listeners moved, as if they were reliving their own "red flower season" with youth, love and unforgettable longing.
Poet Thanh Tung wrote Red Flower Time around 1972, to commemorate his love affair with his first wife in Hai Phong . After the marriage broke down, she married another man in Quang Ninh.
Although they broke up, Thanh Tung still loved his ex-wife. When he heard of her death, he immediately went to Quang Ninh to visit her. The pain of an unfulfilled love became the inspiration for the poem The Time of Red Flowers .
He once shared: “ I wrote the poem Red Flower Time around 1972 when my love affair with my wife in Hai Phong had just ended. Red Flower Time was the ultimate pain that sublimated into my life's destiny, and became Thanh Tung's name. A few years later, Red Flower Time was published by poet Pham Ngoc Canh, who was then the head of the poetry section of the Army Literature Magazine. He came to the port city to visit me and brought me back to print for the first time."
That poem, with its sincere emotions and rich musical imagery, soon proved its enduring vitality in the hearts of poetry lovers. It is not only the author’s personal story, but also the common feelings of those who have loved, experienced happiness and loss.
Poet Thanh Tung wrote Red Flower Time around 1972, to commemorate his love with his first wife in Hai Phong.
In 1989, during a trip to Russia to attend a composition camp organized by the Vietnam Musicians Association, musician Nguyen Dinh Bang happened to read the poem "The Time of Red Flowers" in the poetry collection he brought with him.
Turning each page of poetry, he paused for a long time at Thanh Tung’s Red Flower Season . Those poignant words immediately touched the musician’s heart: “Every red flower season comes/Flowers fall like rain/Fragile petals scatter bright red/Like the blood of a time of youth…”
He decided to compose music, and upon returning home, recorded the song with the voice of famous singer Le Thu. The song was born and quickly became one of the most famous love songs of Vietnamese music during the renovation period.
Talking about the change from the original, musician Nguyen Dinh Bang once confided: “ I struggled for a long time before deciding to use 'Canh thinh nhuan xac do tuoc' instead of 'Canh thinh nhuan tan tac do tuoc' in the original. Tan tac is so sad, and memories are sad, of course, but it must be a vague, optimistic sadness, not a tragic one.”
It is the subtlety in emotion and choice of words that gives the song a different spirit: sad but clear, painful but beautiful. The song Red Flower Time becomes a magical bridge between two artistic souls who have never met.
Poet Thanh Tung later recounted the emotional moment when he heard the song on the radio: "In the 1980s, I happened to hear Nguyen Dinh Bang's song on the Voice of Vietnam radio. At that time, I had stopped working as a shipyard worker and was selling foreign literature books on the sidewalk.
The feeling when I hear the chorus 'Every season the red flowers come, the flowers fall like rain...' makes me feel like I'm flying. Nguyen Dinh Bang's music not only gives wings to poetry but also gives wings to me to overcome the consequences of everyday life."
However, the poet still feels a bit regretful because some of his favorite verses were not included in the song, such as: " I'm not sad, I just regret/You didn't go through all the passionate days" . But perhaps that makes Red Flower Time open up a space of silence, for listeners to fill in with their own feelings.
Since the 1990s, Thoi Hoa Do has become a phenomenon among students and music lovers. Musician Nguyen Dinh Bang once said: “Every university I go to, I see students singing Thoi Hoa Do. It is very rare for a musician to have a song that lives forever. Luckily, I have that honor.”
In 1993, the song received the Nguyen Binh Khiem Award; in 1995, it was awarded by the Vietnam Music Association.
Over the years, the song Thoi Hoa Do has been associated with the names of many singers, including People's Artist Thai Bao. For People's Artist Thai Bao, the song Thoi Hoa Do is not just a song, but a part of his life.
She sang "The Red Flower Time" from the first days she stepped onto the stage, then brought it with her on her performances to the border. During the difficult years, the artist still sang with all her passion.
People's Artist Thai Bao performs the song "Red Flower Season".
"The melody "Every season when red flowers come, flowers fall like rain... has become immortal, attached to me every day and even in my dreams... Both the poem and music have left in the hearts of the audience a beautiful, passionate but painful, romantic and humane love story", People's Artist Thai Bao shared.
Therefore, when hearing the news of musician Nguyen Dinh Bang's passing, People's Artist Thai Bao could not hide his emotion and grief.
"A final word of thanks and gratitude to you. I will carry this song with me until I can no longer sing. And then, the melody and the red petals will fly with you to the end of the horizon - where Uncle Thanh Tung is waiting. Goodbye, my brother, a talented musician Nguyen Dinh Bang", People's Artist Thai Bao said.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/musician-nguyen-dinh-bang-va-moi-duyen-dinh-menh-voi-thoi-hoa-do-cua-thanh-tung-ar971943.html
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