Composer An Thuyên: A soul "anchored at the harbor of his homeland"

(Baonghean) - Hearing the news that composer An Thuyên passed away this afternoon after a heart attack, I couldn't believe my ears.

I remember our recent meeting; he was still full of energy and enthusiasm, telling me about the days he spent traveling along the Lam River collecting antique wallets and other items. At that time, he was a young man working at the Nghe An Provincial Department of Culture. I remember standing at the Bao Son Hotel (Hanoi), looking into his office. He had just retired from his position as Rector of the Military University of Culture and Arts and had been invited to become the Artistic Director of the Bao Son Theater. He seemed busy with a series of music projects. All I saw in the room were old records and gramophones lying silently. It turned out that the busy rector and director dedicated his leisure time to collecting antique gramophones. I pictured him in that relaxed state, stretching his legs out on a reclining chair, eyes closed, listening to an old, gentle melody, allowing his soul to find a place of "anchoring." That "anchoring" was his "homeland."

And I dialed the number to call composer Dan Huyen, a fellow countryman and close friend of composer An Thuyen. I heard the old composer's voice choked with emotion: "Another sad piece of news. After composers Phan Huynh Dieu and Phan Nhan, An Thuyen has also passed away. He was also from Nghe An, my hometown, and someone I was as close to as a brother."

Composer Dân Huyền reminisced to me about a day long ago, sometime in 1986 or 1987, when he and An Thuyên visited their hometown of Quỳnh Thắng (Quỳnh Lưu). It was in this arid, scorching land, under the hot Lao wind, that the composer grew up, filled with love and aspirations. His father had worked as a forest ranger for the French in Quảng Ninh, and later became the chairman of the commune. He established the "family theater troupe," where he directed, acted, and played the guitar. His eldest brother was also talented, often designing backdrops and playing the two-stringed fiddle for the troupe. An Thuyên also showed musical talent from a young age. At 11, he was already skilled at playing the guitar and flute, and other traditional instruments for the family's "theater troupe." Just a few years later, An Thuyên's songwriting talent was recognized by those around him with the song "Following in the Footsteps of Heroes," on the occasion of some of his fellow villagers receiving the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. For this song, An Thuyên was awarded a notebook and a Chinese-made fountain pen, and also received praise from the District Party Secretary. This remains an unforgettable memory of his homeland for composer An Thuyên throughout his long life away from home.

Composer Dân Huyền said that in 1986 and 1987, An Thuyên's hometown of Quỳnh Thắng was still very poor. Later, An Thuyên recounted many times his childhood memories of cassava and sweet potatoes. But surely, amidst that poverty and hardship, the composer still heard the gentle murmur of the cool stream, nourishing his soul with the melancholic folk songs and rhymes, the warm affection of the people of Nghệ An, and the sacrifices and immense love of his parents, siblings, and family. All of these things filled and uplifted the sensitive heart of the composer, so that later, his compositions were always imbued with a deep love for his homeland. From his first widely known songs, "I Choose This Path," composed when he was a 21-year-old soldier stationed in Tuong Duong, to "Folk Songs of You and Me," "Anchored at the Homeland's Harbor," and "Listening to Boat Songs at Night, Remembering Uncle Ho," all evoke deep emotion in any person from Nghe An province. And it's not just people from Nghe An; any person with a rural soul would remember, cherish, and feel deeply attached to those songs.

In 1967, An Thuyên began working at the Nghe An Provincial Department of Culture. In 1975, he joined the army, and in 1977, he became a musician in the Military Arts Troupe of Military Region IV. In 1981, he was sent to study at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music. After graduating, he returned to the Army Arts and Culture Department, now the Military University of Culture and Arts, where he worked until his retirement.

“From the very first day he arrived in Hanoi, An Thuyen stayed at my house,” composer Dan Huyen recalled. “I will always remember that image, when every morning An Thuyen would take me to work at the Voice of Vietnam radio station on his bicycle, before going to school at the Conservatory. Every afternoon, he would pick me up and take me home. We treated each other like family.” Dan Huyen’s voice softened as he recounted how he met An Thuyen every time he returned to Vinh, and how An Thuyen stayed with his family for almost a month when he first arrived in Hanoi. He described the hurried but joyful encounters at the radio station, reminiscing about their hometown in Nghe An, singing together newly composed songs, encouraging and giving each other feedback to perfect the compositions and lyrics… “An Thuyen was a cheerful, kind, and helpful person. He respected older people, and he was always willing to help and encourage younger composers to create,” Dan Huyen said.

Now, that heart, burdened with love for his homeland, has…stopped beating. But the boundless emotions and love in the soul of that musician still linger on the lips of music lovers: “One day is like hundreds of years, my dear,” “When will the Lam River ever dry up, clear or muddy, shame or glory, my dear…” “Where will you anchor your boat, my soul will anchor at the harbor of my homeland…”

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