The pride of two musician brothers performing together at the Grand Ceremony (part 2)

Music has a strange power: it both lifts soldiers on the battlefield and spreads national glory and pride in important moments of the Fatherland.

In the military ceremonial troupe performing at the historic Ba Dinh Square during the 80th National Day celebration this year, there were two young soldiers, Captain Truong Duy Ninh (born in 1990) and Second Lieutenant Truong Duy Long (born in 2004), who both shared the same passion – two musician brothers, both comrades and brothers.

From left to right: Lieutenant Colonel Truong Thanh Binh, Captain Truong Duy Ninh, Second Lieutenant Truong Duy Long.

As the eldest of two brothers, Captain Truong Duy Ninh (Military Band 2 - Military Ceremonial Group) has had a relationship with the saxophone since he was in elementary school. However, it was not until he finished high school that the young man joined the army and officially started learning the saxophone. Like a fish in water, learning with his favorite instrument, Ninh practiced passionately day and night. And then in 2014, he was officially admitted to the national ceremonial group, performing in important ceremonial programs. Up to now, after more than 10 years of participating in major programs, Ninh's passion still grows every day, and he has never felt discouraged.

Seeing his older brother practicing the trumpet, his younger brother Truong Duy Long also had a burning desire to follow his brother into the military band. So after finishing secondary school, when he was just 15 years old, Truong Duy Long entered the military academy, indulging his passion for the piano. Up to now, as a member of the Army Ceremonial Troupe, in addition to performing on the piano, he often participates in singing the national anthem.

Captain Truong Duy Ninh shared: “To play each piece of music well, musicians must know each note, then practice. Each person practices in their own corner, and if they are weak or do not meet the requirements, they must practice over and over again.” For trumpet players, they must know how to combine teeth, lips and breath. “In the beginning of practicing trumpet, it is easy to get a sore throat, tired lips, numb tongue, many meals do not taste good, sometimes even having to skip meals. You have to stick to the instructions, practice step by step to be able to catch your breath and not feel pain.”

Not only focusing on practicing and perfecting musical works, to serve the ceremonies completely, especially outdoor ceremonies lasting many hours, the conductor and musicians in the Team also regularly practice and practice standing postures outdoors, each session from 3 to 4 hours/day. In order to serve important ceremonies, combined with performances such as the military training ceremony of the Military Region, the Military Band Team organizes intensive practice, both in sunny or light rainy conditions. Many times the whole team is soaked with clothes, but the musicians are still focused, passionately breathing life into the melodies of the songs under the conductor's command.

To prepare for the big A80 performances, Ninh and the other members of the troupe had to practice since June. Although they had participated in many big holidays, Ninh and the other soldiers in the team never dared to be complacent. Every day, Ninh regularly practiced with the orchestra for 4-5 hours. There were even days when she felt uneasy about a part, so she practiced more on her own. Ninh confided: On the Great Festival day, the sacred trumpet sounds, in harmony with the heartbeat of the whole country, so mistakes are not allowed, one person missing a beat will affect the whole troupe. Therefore, Ninh and his brothers in the team never dared to be negligent even though they had performed many times before in front of international delegations. Like Ninh, Long in the national anthem singing team also practiced equally hard. For him, this is an honor that every soldier wishes to have. Therefore, when given the opportunity, he tried his best to practice.

Military music, at first glance, seems to be just melodies played in parades, celebrations or big conferences. But behind each note are countless days and nights of hard work, iron discipline and a burning love for the profession. The two musicians in the military ceremonial troupe today are living proof of that.

In military music, a march is not just a melody, but also absolute discipline: The rhythm must be steady, the breath must be steady, the formation must be unified. To have a few minutes to perform in a parade or National Day, the two brothers Ninh, Long and their teammates must spend hundreds of hours practicing blowing, practicing steps, and practicing coordination. And so, day after day, in the scorching sun or pouring rain, their trumpets still resound on the practice field. The opportunity to join the National Military Band to perform at major events such as A50 and A80 is a worthy reward, an honor and pride that cannot be described in words. Because in each note that resounds today is the crystallization of thousands of hours of hard work.

What is more precious, behind the story of the Ninh-Long brothers is a rare family tradition. The father, a veteran - Lieutenant Colonel Truong Thanh Binh, a veteran musician of the Army band, through the trumpet played heroic music in many important events of the army. He also stood in the ranks of the parade team, marching through the years 1985, 1995 and 2005. He passed on his love of music and military pride to his children. And today, on the big stage, when the two brothers play music together, the image of their father is still present somewhere in each melody.

Their story is not only a journey of continuing their careers, but also a testament to the enduring vitality of military music. That music not only connects generations in a family, but also connects the past - present - future of the entire nation. Music gives them the opportunity to be proud, the sacred moments of performance at the historic Ba Dinh Square.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/niem-tu-hao-cua-hai-anh-em-nhac-cong-cung-bieu-dien-o-dai-le-bai-2--i780010/