Father of musician Giáng Son: A portrait of a 'giant' in Vietnamese traditional opera.
People's Artist Hoang Kieu, father of musician Giang Son, is not only the author of the classic Cheo play 'Xuy Van' but also the Director of the Vietnam Cheo Theatre and a respected teacher of many generations of artists.
Composer Giáng Son, a prominent figure in contemporary Vietnamese music, comes from a family with a strong artistic tradition. Her father, People's Teacher Hoàng Kiều, is a leading figure in Vietnamese traditional opera (chèo), who has made significant contributions in all three fields: composition, training, and research.
A brilliant career and the classic <i>chèo</i> play 'Xúy Vân'
People's Artist Hoang Kieu, whose real name was Ta Khac Ke (born April 12, 1925 in Hung Yen), dedicated over 70 years of his life to national art. He held many important positions such as Director of the Vietnam Cheo Theatre, Principal of the Intermediate School of Performing Arts (Ministry of Culture), and Vice Principal of the Hanoi University of Theatre and Film.
In the field of composition, he is the composer of the music for more than 20 <i>cheo</i> plays. Most notably, "Xuy Van" is considered a landmark work in modern <i>cheo</i> theater. His works are highly regarded for their depth, skillful handling of melodies, and harmonious blend of tradition and modernity.
Besides composing, he was also a profound researcher, leaving behind many valuable works such as "Using Cheo Melodies" (1974) and "Vietnamese Tones and Traditional Music" (2001), which have become important professional documents for subsequent generations.
A dedicated mentor to generations of artists.
People's Artist Hoang Kieu is respected by many generations of students for his strict yet dedicated teaching. He laid the foundation for the reformed performance style of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) in the new era, training artists from breathing techniques and enunciation to musical thinking.
Many renowned artists, such as Tran Quoc Chiem and People's Artist Thanh Ngoan, have expressed their deep gratitude to their teacher who instilled in them a love for traditional art. His words of advice are still remembered by his students: "Cheo is not just singing; it's storytelling, it's about profound meaning... If you don't tell the story from your heart, no audience will listen."
For his immense contributions to the field of education, he was awarded the title of People's Teacher by the State in 2008. He passed away on August 10, 2017 in Hanoi, at the age of 92.
Family background and guidance for Giáng Son's daughter.
People's Artist Hoang Kieu married Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) artist Bich Ngoc in 1966. They had four children, the youngest of whom is musician Giang Son. Her artistic family environment nurtured her creative talent from a young age.
He was a man with a clear vision for his children. When Giáng Son was only 5 years old, he asked her to learn piano. Although there was initial resistance, the musician later admitted that her piano foundation was a crucial stepping stone in her development in modern composition and arrangement.
When asked about her father, Giáng Son always expressed pride, saying that he was a man with a unique mindset, seamlessly combining traditional Vietnamese music with the classical music knowledge he accumulated during his studies abroad. The legacy left by People's Artist Hoàng Kiều continues to live on through his works, research projects, and the generations of successful students he has mentored.
