People's Artist Thanh Hai - The one who left beautiful melodies for the cai luong stage

Burning incense to bid farewell to People's Artist, musician Thanh Hai (Nguyen Kim Hai) at the Artists' Pagoda, so many memories of him came flooding back to me. My colleagues and stage artists and I greatly appreciate his contributions to the music of the reformed stage, especially the art of the zither, the technique of harmony and arrangement, and his very own performance style - People's Artist Thanh Hai.

People's Artist, Musician Thanh Hai

1. I have known Thanh Hai since 1978, when I studied music with Mr. Hai Khue (Meritorious Artist Vo Van Khue), because his wife - Ms. Loan, was a classmate of mine. Over time, from that familiar feeling, I liked and was fascinated by Thanh Hai's zither playing in the music performances on the radio of Ho Chi Minh City People's Voice in the 1980s.

In most of those performances, Thanh Hai's zither playing was always paired with Mr. Van Gioi's guitar playing, creating a new style of vọng cổ, which was the sound of a large zither (21-stringed zither), with a wide range. From then on, the sound of a large zither, with a low pitch, was introduced into vọng cổ, creating a new style, suitable for the enjoyment needs of the public at that time. Moreover, the style of playing guitar and zither duets began to be broadcast on the radio, something that had never happened before.

In most of the Dan Tranh melodies of People's Artist Thanh Hai, including the musical features inherited from the Dan Tranh style of previous famous musicians, there is also a new unique technique, introduced into the style of Dan Vong Co, which is the scale. The pure minor scale on the Dan Tranh was engraved by Thanh Hai in most of the performances that were performed on radio and television since the 1980s and throughout his musical journey later. This technique has entered the Dan Tranh style of many Dan Tranh musicians who have inherited it.

Thanh Hai's talent was further developed when he moved from the Ho Chi Minh City Performing Arts Troupe to Tran Huu Trang Opera House. Traditional national character combined with new forms is always promoted in most of the works he arranges and harmonizes.

The above achievements were warmly received by the public and actors, and his achievements were recognized, the State awarded musician Thanh Hai the title of Meritorious Artist, then People's Artist. More uniquely, he promoted that style of harmony and arrangement in the art program A O Show, receiving warm applause from the public at home and abroad.

2. I am very happy and pleased to have worked with Mr. Thanh Hai many times. Each time, I note a few more of his very effective and practical ways of working.

I remember, once when I was arranging the music for the play Mangrove Forest by composer Ha Nam Quang (in 1982), Mr. Thanh Hai reminded me that when arranging and harmonizing for Cai Luong, we must remember to “have polyphony and wide range”. Just one sentence from him changed the expressiveness of the whole orchestra.

Another time, he and I worked together on the opening program of the National Don Ca Tai Tu Festival in 2014 in Bac Lieu . He showed me how to promote the spirit of solidarity, joint efforts, and dedication of all participating artisans and artists, creating a close connection to best carry out the common task, contributing to spreading, promoting and developing the artistic value of Don Ca Tai Tu in community life.

Whenever I enjoy the duets of Thanh Hai and Van Gioi, I always feel a very special freshness, even though many of the performances have been introduced and performed for nearly half a century. It is this attractive and captivating performance style that has created the appeal of these two talented musicians, enjoyed and loved by a large audience, and the younger generation tries to learn and follow.

In addition, Mr. Thanh Hai has also created a very special professional mark through his work of composing and performing music for Cai Luong plays. He has left Cai Luong composers a style of promoting traditional music through a number of suitable new musical means.

Now that People's Artist Thanh Hai has passed away, he left behind all his works with a great love for his homeland and a deep love for traditional music. The melodies that he painstakingly researched, composed and left behind all contain many beautiful melodies of the Vietnamese people and soul. When those unique and distinctive melodies are perfectly combined with some new and modern means of artistic creation, they will together create changes suitable for each period of development of Vietnamese musical culture.

Goodbye, People's Artist, musician Thanh Hai.

Master - Meritorious Artist HUYNH KHAI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nsnd-thanh-hai-nguoi-de-lai-nhung-giai-dieu-dep-cho-san-khau-cai-luong-post797396.html