The image of President Ho Chi Minh through the songs of musicians from Nghe An province.
President Ho Chi Minh – the beloved leader of the nation – has long been a great source of inspiration in Vietnamese music. Within this tradition, the works of musicians from Nghe An province about Uncle Ho always possess a unique character, drawing inspiration from the very homeland where he was born and raised.
From the cradle of folk songs and melodies to the stature of a leader.
Every time they return to Lang Sen and Lang Chua villages, many people feel the peaceful, rustic charm of a rural area in Nghe An province, with its bamboo groves, hibiscus hedges, and simple thatched roofs. Not only is it a source of pride for the people of Nghe An, but this land has also become the "common homeland" of the whole country – the birthplace and nurturing ground of President Ho Chi Minh.
It is from this cultural space that many musicians from Nghe An, when writing about President Ho Chi Minh, have turned to traditional folk music. The sweet melodies of the "vi" and "giam" folk songs, the sound of the loom, or the fragrance of lotus flowers in summer have become familiar images and sounds, creating emotional depth in musical works about him.
Within that narrative, the journey from young Nguyen Sinh Cung in his village in Nghe An province to the young man who left to find a way to save the country is a theme successfully explored by many musicians. A prime example is the song "Listening to the Boatman's Song at Night, Remembering Uncle Ho" by composer An Thuyen.
"On a moonlit night, I hear the sound of the ferry boat drifting nearby, recalling stories of people from long ago..."
Throughout his childhood, Uncle Ho traveled the entire length of the river by ferry.
"Uncle Ho lived through his childhood, experiencing the vastness of folk songs..."
The song was composed by musician An Thuyên in 1973, while he was working at the Nghe An Provincial Department of Culture. During a field trip to collect folk songs in Lang Sen village, the lullabies sung in hammocks and the story of Nguyen Sinh Cung's childhood love of listening to folk songs inspired him to write this work.
Through the voices of Meritorious Artist Le Thanh and later People's Artist Thanh Hoa on the Voice of Vietnam radio station, "Listening to the Boatman's Song at Night, Remembering Uncle Ho" left a deep impression on the public. The song not only portrays the sacred feelings for President Ho Chi Minh but also evokes the cultural depth of Nghe An province in the formation of his character.
Sharing the same sentiment of honoring that cultural heritage, composer Hoang Thanh, with his song "The Sound of the Kite Flute of Childhood," portrays a pure and innocent childhood, where the simple sounds of his homeland sowed the first stirrings of emotion in the young boy Cung's soul, which then accompanied him throughout his arduous journey to find a way to save the country.
"Little Cung was fascinated by the sound of the kite flute."
The sound of the flute evokes images of lush green mountains and clear blue waters.
Fragrant rice fields, Sen Village
The sound of kite flutes in childhood
Keep humming in your heart.
For those who travel the world.
"Finding a way to save the nation..."
These melodies are imbued with deep affection for Uncle Ho.
As a native of Thanh Chuong district, musician Phan Thanh Chuong - whose real name is Phan Hong Truong - has many compositions about President Ho Chi Minh, such as: "My Mother's House Has a Picture of President Ho Chi Minh", "Truong Sa is Fragrant with Lotus", "Remembering Him Scooping Water with a Long-Drawn Bucket"...
Among them, the song "In this world, only Uncle Ho is truly special" (set to a poem by Mai Phương) is a prime example. With its simple yet emotionally rich melody, the song recreates the image of President Ho Chi Minh as a close and humble figure from his childhood to his revolutionary years.
For composer Phan Thanh Chương, writing about President Ho Chi Minh doesn't require elaborate lyrics or exaggeration. It is his life, character, and simple lifestyle that naturally inspire his music.
Having dedicated over half a century to art, composer Van The has also left many imprints on themes related to President Ho Chi Minh. His collection of 15 songs, "The Lam River, the Love of Uncle Ho," is a testament to the deep affection of this artist from Nghe An province for the beloved leader. Many of these works have received awards from both central and local authorities.
Each song about President Ho Chi Minh by musicians from Nghe An province, despite approaching it from different angles, shares a common point: portraying the image of a leader embodying the essence and soul of Vietnam. This is not only the artist's affection for President Ho Chi Minh, but also the gratitude of the homeland to the great son of the nation.
