A family singing...

(Baonghean)The father and daughter-in-law chose folk music, while the son and daughter followed the path of light music. Whenever they gather together, they sing love songs and beautiful melodies to each other, then discuss the lyrics and notes, praising each other with applause and comments, and laughing together. For them, music connects emotions, and is an effective means of understanding and loving each other…

Family reunion

The wedding of singer Tiến Mạnh, son of Meritorious Artist Tiến Dũng, was filled with a vibrant musical atmosphere. The bride and groom were captivated by the love songs of contemporary music; their voices conveyed the overflowing happiness of a blossoming artistic romance, and a harmonious blend of vocal techniques, as if they had been performing together for many years. Everyone in the hall knew that the bride, singer Phương Thanh, was a nightingale of folk music, while the groom, singer Tiến Mạnh, was a romantic figure of light music. When Hương Tràm's sister was introduced to offer her blessings to her brother, all the guests, relatives, and friends in the hall fell silent, absorbing every word of her song. Hương Tràm seemed more mature than she had been seen on television.

In that scene, one could see her mother humming along to her daughter's song, her father proudly gazing at his daughter affectionately and whispering to his friend beside him, "She sang this song in the blind audition round of The Voice. I was watching it on TV at home and was surprised; I didn't think she was so talented! She sings folk songs so well!" He also mentioned that Huong Tram's name brought back a musical memory from his early days in the arts. It was the song "Walking in the Scent of Tram Flowers," for which he won the Gold Award at the National Folk Arts Festival in 1988.

Then he enthusiastically recounted how, from a young age, his daughter had an extraordinary passion for singing. Whenever he practiced a new piece or song, she would silently follow along, secretly learning, and by evening she would have memorized it perfectly, without a single mistake or missing a note. Throughout their childhood, the children followed their father's artistic journey. Therefore, even when he pondered over a line in a play that wasn't quite right, or a lyric in a song he composed that didn't fully convey the emotion, the children would approach him and ask, "Dad, why do you keep singing the same line over and over?" He would smile and say, "It's art, my child. Art requires contemplation, extracting all the essence of life's experiences to distill a few words for a work!" Back then, they didn't fully understand his answer, but the very word "artist" encompassed such hardship, struggle, and yet such beauty and nobility.

Singer Tien Manh (playing the piano)

In the 1980s, Meritorious Artist Tiến Dũng was renowned as a golden voice with a lyrical folk style. All the folk songs from the three regions of Vietnam that he performed were warmly received by the people of Nghe An. Back then, television even dedicated a segment to Tiến Dũng's golden voice, featuring songs like "Crescent Moon," "Walking in the Scent of Melaleuca," "Areca Flower in the Betel Garden," and "Searching for the Song of Love"... Each song, whether incorporating elements of Ca Tru in Huy Thục's "Crescent Moon" or the folk style of Bài Chòi in "Walking in the Scent of Melaleuca," possessed Tiến Dũng's unique quality. This distinctive quality stemmed not only from his innate talent but also from his diligent research and tireless work.

When Tiến Dũng was invited to become the lead singer and actor of the Provincial Song and Dance Troupe, he was always given leading roles in musical plays (at that time, musical plays were the troupe's main specialty). However, most of the artists in the troupe had not received formal vocal training; most only sang folk songs in the traditional style, relying on their innate talent. Concerned about how to scientifically refine folk singing and incorporate vocal techniques into folk songs, Tiến Dũng applied to study vocal music at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music. Upon graduation, his "Project to Introduce Vocal Techniques into Folk Songs" was completed. With his solid professional skills, he was invited to teach vocal music at the College of Culture and Arts, where his classes focused on breath control techniques in folk songs. His students include generations of successful singers such as People's Artist Hong Luu, Que Thuong, Lan Huong… and among them is his wife, a student from the first graduating class of the College of Culture and Arts.

Passionate about performing, researching, and developing the folk melodies of Nghe Tinh, Tien Dung is known as a talented artist with the ability to both teach and compose. Therefore, from a young age, his children learned the virtue of their father: whatever he does, he must see it through to the end, not only for the success and honor of a professional but also because the fruits of his artistic labor must have value in preserving, conserving, and promoting. This is not only valuable in folk music, but also in other genres. Although he discovered his children inherited his "singing gene" from a young age, Tien Dung did not rush to steer them towards a singing career. Because more than anyone else, he knows that "the profession of an artist" requires not only talent but also intellectual qualities, seriousness in work, and an aesthetic sensibility in the soul of a singer.

So when Tien Manh was recruited by the Hanoi Conservatory of Music from the Blue Bird Team of the Vietnam-Germany Children's Cultural Center in Vinh, his father enrolled him in the 10-year program at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music. He explained that his decision to let his son leave his parents' care was to invest in his son's secure future and also to invest in himself as a "nest egg." During those years, he had many sleepless nights, many nights missing and worrying about his son, wanting to bring him home. But after his son graduated, he saw his son's passion for the piano and musical notes, so he decided to nurture that passion with him. His son, singer Tien Manh, is now a singer in the Central Song and Dance Ensemble, admired by young people for his musical taste and his very modern, innovative singing style that doesn't stray from traditional values. Yet, it seems his path on the stage is still modest and reserved; he hasn't yet achieved fame, his name hasn't appeared on advertising posters.

He said, “Each genre and musical taste has its own audience. I have young fans and audiences who enjoy hearing me sing and request to hear me sing again whenever I perform. However, to become famous and successful, many factors are needed, what people call ‘the right time, the right place, and the right people.’” Meritorious Artist Tiến Dũng proudly said of his son, “Recently, he sent me several recordings of timeless songs like ‘Hanoi, Sacred and Elegant,’ ‘Love for the Country,’ and ‘Passionate Hanoi.’ I was truly surprised by his scholarly yet down-to-earth approach, by the young person’s appreciation of the historical and cultural values ​​of the Vietnamese people. I am happy that my son has matured on his artistic journey and also happy that he has heeded his father’s advice: ‘Being an artist is a special profession; it has no place for those without talent and no place for the lazy.’”

Singer Huong Tram

In the success of his youngest daughter, Huong Tram, her older brother Tien Manh played a major role. During Tram's competition days, her brother was the person she always called for advice on vocal techniques, song selection, and how to best suit her vocal range and stage presence. Now that Huong Tram has achieved fame, wherever her voice resonates, there are requests like, "Sing more!" The musical spotlight has reached new heights for this 17-year-old girl, considered a phenomenon from The Voice, reaching new heights of fame and the glamour of showbiz.

The beloved daughter of artist Tiến Dũng showed early musical talent, but unlike her brother, she didn't receive the same early investment from her parents. Instead, they hoped she would excel in her studies, secure a stable career, and then pursue music later, depending on the circumstances. With this in mind, they focused on her English skills and ensured she achieved good grades in Math and Literature. Then, her musical journey began, and music chose her. Unable to resist the inevitable path of an artist, they embarked on this journey. More than ever, they supported their daughter, accompanied her, and were proud of her achievements.

Being an artist requires not only dedication but also a proper, long-term investment. After winning The Voice, Huong Tram joined Cat Tien Sa Media Company, and all her singing activities, from arranging and recording to commissioning songs, were handled by a team. Even working in such a professional environment, her parents were still worried. Her father researched and contacted the Military Academy of Arts so that Huong Tram could study there at the intermediate level in vocal music. In the post-The Voice period, her parents closely monitored her performance and study schedules, reminding their daughter: "Go to the important shows, otherwise skip them, focus on your studies!" Her mother also diligently checked on the team members, asking: "Is she hoarse today? Does she seem tired?", "If tonight's show isn't that important, let Tram stay home and study; she has a specialized exam tomorrow…"

My mother, a backstage artist, sacrificed her career, giving up her passion for singing to nurture her husband's passion and secure a future for her children. Taking her daughter to competitions, visiting her son, listening to his new recordings and plans, she felt her sacrifices had paid off. Now, with her daughter-in-law also pursuing a career as a singer, she feels even more proud. Although it will be difficult for both children to follow the path of art, having both husband and wife working in the arts allows for shared experiences and understanding among those in the profession.

Young daughter-in-law Phuong Thanh greatly admires her mother-in-law's self-sacrifice. But as a singer, her greatest happiness is singing, more than anyone else, besides her family. Phuong Thanh said: “From the very beginning of our relationship, we admired each other's talent. Mr. Manh often said my voice was like rock sugar. And I secretly thanked fate for letting me meet someone as dedicated to this profession as him. He advised and guided me on most of my songs.” Phuong Thanh also revealed that since they started dating, they have had many plans to release a joint album combining two genres: folk and pop. And soon, in Phuong Thanh's second album, there will be a pop song by the two of them. When asked: “What does it feel like to be a daughter-in-law in an artistic family?” Phuong Thanh replied: “It's a source of pride and also a great responsibility, the responsibility of preserving and nurturing the artistic spirit.”

That artistic spirit is the very source of folk music, the enduring cultural values ​​that Meritorious Artist Tiến Dũng dedicated his entire life to. Family is the foundation, the cradle, the root for musical talents to flourish…

Thanh Nga