Sounds from the past

(Baonghean) - In an era where music is enjoyed mainly through mobile phones, computers, mp3 players, etc., finding vinyl records to enjoy the sound is considered rare and luxurious. However, right now, right in Vinh City, there is still a group of people who share the same passion for vinyl records, diligently collecting and passionately enjoying the sounds of the past...

The hobby of playing vinyl records has long been considered a noble hobby, because the sound characteristics are very "choosy" about listeners and the investment for this hobby is quite expensive. The golden age of vinyl records was in the early 1970s and 1980s of the last century. At that time, vinyl records were mainly sought by the rich, or artists to immerse themselves in the delicate, original sound, without any influence of modern electronic technology. Later, over time, this hobby gradually narrowed, partly because of the historical and social changes that affected the community's taste before the massive invasion of electronic music; partly because the hobby of playing vinyl records is very sophisticated, laborious and requires a not small investment. Mr. Phan Huy, an employee of Techcombank - a vinyl player in the city. Vinh shared: “Buying a turntable for the system means having to buy up to 5 items: turntable, tonearm, turntable, a phono preamplifier, and a set of connecting cables. As for records, if you are “addicted”, there will always be an urge to collect a variety of them…”.

Mr. Phan Huy adjusts the sound of the record player.

The hobby has been with Phan Huy for many years, and he has never once thought of giving it up, despite the ups and downs of life. He said that the rustic sound has permeated his blood and flesh, and he can sit and listen to it all day without getting bored. He showed me the special record player - a member of his family for four generations. His eyes lit up with passion, Phan Huy gently put down a vinyl record, lightly turned the handle, and the narrow space of the winter room was filled with the bustling sound of "Persian Market" - a work by the British composer, conductor, and pianist Albert William Ketèlbey (1875 - 1959). Even though he had heard this famous piece of music many times, the sound quality through the vinyl still exuded its own charm and charm, both rustic and sophisticated, and the sound field spread out as if to envelop and immerse the listener in the world of magical musical notes.

After a period of use, records will be scratched, creating grooves on the surface, sometimes making the sound mixed with a crackling sound, but for long-time players, they love that noise - the noise that makes the difference between vinyl records and other types of electronic music available. Preserving records is also very elaborate. Record players have to buy many accessories such as carbon brushes to brush dust on the record, anti-static spray bottles, compressed air dust guns, brushes and special solutions to clean the needle heads. Records are usually carefully stored in glass cabinets to avoid dust, humidity and high temperatures that cause warping and cracks on the surface.

Although it is expensive and laborious, this hobby is making a comeback among young people. Besides Mr. Phan Huy, a few young people aged 18 - 25 have also "fallen in love" with this hobby. Mr. Nguyen Sy Truong (75 - Hoang Xuan Han - Vinh City) shared: "I have just started playing vinyl records for nearly a year now. At first, I tried it out because of my friend's invitation, then I became "addicted". Many times, I went on business trips far away just to come home early to immerse myself in the sound of the record player, only then did I feel like I really had a private space". According to Truong, for new players, the biggest difficulty is the playing technique. How to properly install and adjust the machine and disc so that it runs smoothly, the sound does not vibrate and distort is very complicated. The record player must be placed on a solid flat surface, usually a stone table or a hard wooden cabinet, then insert the disc, wait for the disc to run for about 5 - 10 minutes until it is stable before enjoying it. That is why the vinyl record player creates a world of rich musical sound, with a strong vitality through the centuries...

Currently, the number of people playing gramophones and vinyl records in Vinh City is not many, not enough to form a club or a club model, but that does not mean that this hobby is "inferior" to electronic music. Because in each gramophone and vinyl record itself, there is a profound human value, not only bringing healthy, pure aesthetics at a high level but also helping players relieve stress in life, which is a product of industrial society.

Article and photos:Hoang Vu(Vinh City)