Cultural performance of Zone 5 on the battlefield of Quang Nam

Immediately after its establishment on March 20, 1952, the Inter-Zone 5 Art Troupe (now the Military Zone 5 Art Troupe) set out to participate in the Summer-Autumn Campaign of 1952 at the Northern Quang Nam front. In the first battle, the entire team fought side by side with the attacking forces of Regiment 803 - Inter-Zone 5 to completely destroy the Xuan Dai stronghold, smash the Phu Ky administrative area, wipe out Van Ly station, and liberate the Go Noi area.

Actors of the Central Liberation Army Art Troupe practice a new performance. Photo: Archive

From the vibrant battlefield, the first works were born such as the songs "Comrade Ngo's Nest", "Xuan Dai Victory" by Thai Hao Quyen; "Old Lady's Plane", "Chasing the French Enemies" by Huynh Ngoc The; "Happy Paying Agricultural Tax" by Cao Xuan Tru; the poems "A Bowl of Green Tea" by Thai Dinh Thuy, "Birds Don't Fight Birds in the Same Nest" by Luu Trung Duong...

The works that carry the breath of the battlefield and the rhythm of resistance life, expressed with the enthusiasm of the artists, have great influence, not only leaving a good impression on the hearts of the soldiers and local people, but also having the power to spread and attract the ranks of anti-war soldiers, directly contributing to the victory of the Northern Quang Nam Summer - Autumn Campaign.

From August 2, 1962, under the name of the Central Central Liberation Army Art Troupe, cadres and actors closely followed the formation of the main units of Military Region 5, both participating in the battle to protect the base, defeating the enemy's Lam Son I (August 1962) and Bach Phuong XI (April 1963) operations into the Nuoc La base area (now in Tra Mai commune, Nam Tra My), and actively composing and performing arts.

Many works were born, with artistic quality and the effect of encouraging and motivating the army and people, such as the songs "One night we destroyed two forts", "People's guerrillas", "Tieng hat ban mai", "Anh di hon con chim bay", "Em di tho" by Thanh Anh; "Doi chan" by Nguyen Thanh Lam; "Vuot song Tien" by Xuan Tam; "Toan dan quyet khang chien", "Mien nam que huong toi" by Le Vien; the play "Ly khai" by Ngoc Anh; the verse "Chi Ai Tam Xuan" by Thanh Thuy; sword dance by Y Thin...

The artists were always enthusiastic, proactive, not afraid of danger, taking care of their own food and provisions, and designing and making their own musical instruments and props, ready to perform for the soldiers at any time.

Once during a performance, singer Thanh Lich was singing the song "Spring in the war zone" by musician Xuan Hong when enemy planes came to bomb a nearby location, but she still calmly sang until the end of the song, making the soldiers not only "roll over in awe" but also jokingly giving her some verses, which spread throughout the front: "In the sky, jets are rumbling/ On the ground, Thanh Lich still "roars" in the war zone".

Another time, the art troupe came to the 232nd Women's Transport Battalion (Ba Thao Battalion). The charming singer Tra My, with her high, strong Soprano voice, stepped on a spike that went through her foot while marching, and her comrades had to carry her away on a stretcher.

When they arrived, they saw the female transport soldiers eager to hear her singing, so the troupe had to send someone to carry her to the stage, where she sat on a chair to perform. After the song, the audience rushed to hug their idol and cried together in sympathy for the hardships of female soldiers in the flames of war.

From the practice of Front 4 (Quang Da) in 1968, the art troupe produced folk songs and plays such as "Ba me Go Noi" by Phan Ngan; dance poems "Nguoi anh hung tren bai cat Ky Anh" by Le Huan; dances "Xuong duong" and "Tai am" by Bich Dao; songs "Chiec day gui" by Pham Tan, "Vau xanh oc da" by Vu Cuc - Lam Bich; dance "My let" by Minh Phuong - Le Dong...

In the spring of 1975, the Central Vietnam Liberation Army Art Troupe actively composed, cultivated, perfected professional skills and received new works to celebrate the successive liberation of the South Central coastal provinces.

Many of the troupe's works will forever "go with the years" such as the songs "Carrying ammunition to the battlefield", "The Da Nang guerrilla" by Thanh Anh; "Four seasons you go", "Unending lyrics" by To Hai; "Happy victory season" by Van Chung - Lam Luong...

In the midst of the war, many cadres and actors heroically fell in their youth, leaving behind works, songs, passionate dances, and authentic roles that touched people's hearts, encouraging the spirit of daring to fight, determined to fight, and determined to defeat the American invaders. Clearly expressing the artistic style that is inseparable from the soldiers, the stage is inseparable from the battlefield, every musical note, song, poem, and dance participates in the fight against the enemy.

In 2002, the Art Troupe of Military Region 5 was honored to be awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces during the period of resistance against the US to save the country. Being closely attached to the homeland of Quang Nam and the Central Highlands provinces during the two resistance wars to defend the country, being cared for, protected and sheltered by the people, and always wholeheartedly serving the people are important factors that have fostered the identity of the Art Troupe of Military Region 5: "Very Zone 5 - Very Army - Very ethnic - Very popular - Very true to the Party's artistic line" as praised by General Nguyen Chi Thanh. That is also a solid foundation, "fueling" the team of cadres and actors today to firmly step on a new path, constantly reaching for artistic heights, worthy of the trust and love of soldiers and people of all ethnic groups in the area of Military Region 5.

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