Following the flow of music from the land of Agarwood

Early Impressions

When referring to the 50-year journey of Khanh Hoa music , many musicians have the same opinion, which can be divided into 2 main periods: From 1975 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2025. According to musician Hinh Phuoc Lien: “In the period of 1975 - 2000, Khanh Hoa music appeared authors and works that laid the initial foundation for a new era. In the joy of the homeland being liberated, the country being unified, musicians Hoang Tho Huy, Van Ky, Van Dung composed proud songs such as: " Merry Nha Trang Liberation", "Nha Trang Autumn Returns", "Nha Trang City I Love" ... Those compositions opened up the direction for musicians to compose songs about their homeland Khanh Hoa , including me and some other brothers such as: To Hai, Van Chung, Bang Linh, Hinh Phuoc Long, Do Tri Dung ... Until today, the audience still has affection for those songs Songs: “Spring song on the coastal city” (To Hai), “Song of October 23” (Van Chung), “Oh guitar! Sing with me” (Bang Linh), “Oh Dinh river” (Hinh Phuoc Lien), “So close to Truong Sa” (Hinh Phuoc Long), “Willing to be a wave” (Do Tri Dung)…”.

Singer Trong Tan and singer Hoai Thuong perform the song "Nha Trang, autumn is back".

In 1983, only 8 years after the liberation, under the direction of Mr. Cung Giu Phu - Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Culture and Information, the Provincial Cultural Materials Company cooperated with Ho Chi Minh City Television to produce the music tape "Nha Trang Bien Hen". This can be considered the first music album to collect compositions about Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa written by famous musicians in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa. After its release, this music tape was enthusiastically received by the public in the province and became a source of encouragement for musicians to continue composing new quality works about Khanh Hoa. To this day, musicians in Khanh Hoa still consider the release of this music tape a milestone in the province's music scene.

In the performing arts field during this period, Khanh Hoa music also recorded the birth of Khanh Hoa Performing Arts Group, which was later restructured into Phu Khanh Song and Dance Group, then renamed Hai Dang Song and Dance Group. This was not only an art performing unit, but also a cradle, a common home that helped many singers grow up. There was a time when the reputation of Hai Dang Song and Dance Group was on par with professional art groups nationwide. Singers such as: Anh Dao, Nguyen Hai, Anh Tuyet, Ngoc Thuy, My Hanh, Ngoc Lien... once made music lovers fall in love with their voices. And naturally, at professional music festivals and performances nationwide, singers of Hai Dang Song and Dance Group achieved many outstanding achievements.

Continuing the success

If the first 25 years after liberation are considered the golden period of Khanh Hoa music, then the period from 2001 to the present is the inheritance and continuation of successes. That is demonstrated by the fact that Khanh Hoa music has 5 musicians (To Hai, Hinh Phuoc Long, Van Chung, Hinh Phuoc Lien, Nguyen Tien Lieu) who were awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts by the President. When the whole country moved into the 21st century, it opened up many opportunities, but also many challenges for the creative activities of musicians in Khanh Hoa. The nature of the market has increasingly had a profound impact on creative activities; the waves and trends of music imported from outside are increasingly strong. But the good news is that the musical creative activities in Khanh Hoa still maintain the flow of mainstream songs and are still welcomed by the public. Some of the works include: “Khanh Hoa mot khuc ca” (Hinh Phuoc Long), “Khi toi sang ve Nguoi” (Nguyen Tien Lieu), “Nhung sao xanh” (To Hai), “Khanh Hoa chao ngay moi” (Hinh Phuoc Lien)… Along with the musicians who made their names in the previous period, Khanh Hoa music also saw the emergence of new musicians such as: Ngoc Anh, Huynh Lien, Kien Thanh, Xuan Lam, Le Van Cau, Le Ha, Nguyen Van Hao, Truong Lam…

Singers of the Hai Dang Song and Dance Troupe perform the song "So close to Truong Sa".

With music performance activities, under the pressure of the art market, changes in entertainment methods, and the explosion of technology, the organization of performances in the old way of Hai Dang Song and Dance Troupe has encountered many difficulties. The main task of the troupe at this time is mainly to perform according to the programs and plans assigned annually. Recently, with the attention of the province, Hai Dang Song and Dance Troupe has gradually improved the quality of its performances. At national professional music and dance festivals in 2012, 2023, 2024, the troupe has received many high awards for its programs and performances. Some of the troupe's current singers are also known to the audience such as: Hoai Thuong, Trong Khai, Hai Ly, Duc Tho, Dinh Hoi...

According to Mr. Le Van Hoa - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, looking back at the 50-year journey of Khanh Hoa music has shown clear development and continuity. From a place without professional musicians, the province has built a large creative force from the core of the movement. The quantity and quality of songs about Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa are increasing and becoming more and more widely popular. Among them, many songs have lived through the years with generations of audiences at home and abroad. However, in order for Khanh Hoa's musical journey to continue to have milestones in the coming time, it is necessary to have more efforts from composers and performing singers; synchronous and systematic investment in the creative and performing activities of today's artists.

FAMILY

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202504/theodong-chay-am-nhac-xu-tram-2d672f3/