Where a passion meets...

(Baonghean) - One rainy October afternoon, I was surprised to find a group of young people playing flutes at a lakeside cafe near Goong Lake. Amidst the bustling and noisy city streets, the melodious bamboo flute music sounded strangely pure and sacred…

The Nghe An Bamboo Flute Club on its debut day. Photo: Phan Sang

At first glance, among the group of young people, only Phan Sang (a reporter from Tien Phong newspaper) was the oldest. Sang shared: “I’ve been learning to play the flute for a long time. Now that I’ve met some young people with the same passion, I’m joining for fun and to guide them in forming a club called Nghe An Bamboo Flute Club. Today is the official launch day of the club.”

The Nghe An Bamboo Flute Club has over 20 members, including 4 female members. Most members are from the 9X generation (born in the 1990s), currently studying at universities and colleges in Vinh City. They come from various rural areas; some are first-year students, still unfamiliar with the city, but their passion for the bamboo flute has bonded them into close friends and siblings. Trang, a first-year student at Vinh University, shared: “I often go to Ho Chi Minh Square with my friends, and I loved seeing them play the flute, so I asked to learn. At first, I just thought I'd learn for fun, to see what it was like, but now, I feel like something's missing if I don't bring my flute with me. When I see someone with a beautiful flute on the street, I envy them!” Hoang, Trang's friend, added: “I've been scolded by my mother many times for always bringing my flute with me wherever I go; whenever I have a moment to myself, I pull it out and play!” The members of the club include people who have been learning the flute since childhood, and others who have only been familiar with it for a few months. Those with more experience teach those with less. They share their knowledge through the sound of the flute. Every Monday and Friday evening, the club members gather at the flower garden in Ho Chi Minh Square to socialize and learn flute playing techniques. Nguyen Van Nguyen, the head of the Nghe An Bamboo Flute Club, said: “Playing the flute is an art that requires a long learning process. For beginners, the first thing is to learn how to hold the flute, how to make it produce sound, and then learn how to breathe and the basic music theory of the bamboo flute…”

Nguyen has been attached to the flute since childhood. Most people who meet Nguyen feel he is more mature than his 20 years. His humble way of speaking and gentle demeanor exude confidence. Nguyen was born and raised in the rice-growing village of Dong Thanh, Yen Thanh district. His father, Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, was a renowned artist in Dong Thanh commune. During the day, he was busy with farming, but in the evenings, he would immerse himself in love songs and his simple bamboo flute. That heartfelt sound seemed to help him forget his hardships and fatigue. At those times, young Nguyen would listen intently, absorbing every note and melody of the flute. His father taught him breathing techniques and vocal embellishments. By the age of eight, he could play cheerful folk songs on his own. On leisurely summer afternoons, the two of them would gather bamboo, heat small steel rods in a fire, and thread them through the bamboo to make flutes. That simple bamboo flute has appeared countless times on the stages of Dong Thanh commune and Yen Thanh district, accompanied by Nguyen and his father. Besides his flute playing skills, Mr. Binh is also a member of the village's performing arts group called "Homeland Soul," participating in several plays. Nguyen is always present at these performances to cheer on his father. Over time, he has followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a key figure in cultural and artistic activities at the commune and school levels.

After graduating from high school, he applied to study Foreign Language Pedagogy at Nghe An College of Education. Naturally enthusiastic and energetic, he eagerly participated in the school's Youth Union activities and became a member of the Executive Committee of the English Department's Youth Union. Through social media, Nguyen befriended people who shared his passion for playing the flute, learning from them to improve his technique. Nguyen shared: “I was lucky to befriend artist Bui Cong Thom on Facebook, a lecturer at the National Academy of Music and the head of the saotruc.net club. After hearing my story, he gave me his phone number for easy communication. Recently, I had the opportunity to go to Hanoi to interact with famous bamboo flute clubs in the North, learning many interesting and meaningful things!” He learned to play the flute online, from people with professional experience in flute playing techniques as well as the techniques for making a complete bamboo flute. He saved up money from selling flutes to buy some additional equipment for his flute-making business.

Establishing the Bamboo Flute Club was Nguyên's passion. As the "leader," Nguyên was quite inexperienced. He had to create his own lesson plans to guide members during each club meeting. Nguyên added: "Most of the members like the bamboo flute, but their breathing techniques are limited, let alone how to play it with soul. It's a blessing for students to even own a flute; it will take a long time to acquire a complete set." Nguyên hopes the club will have a small fund to equip each member with at least one flute.

Currently, Nguyen Van Nguyen plays the flute at several cafes in Vinh City. Besides his flute talent, he can also play many other musical instruments such as guitar, organ, and the zither… Nguyen also aspires to contribute a small part to preserving and promoting the value of traditional Vietnamese music!

Nguyen Le