People's Artist Hoang Thanh: When the kite has flown to a distant land

The musician's life has ended, but his musical legacy and artistic personality will live on for a long time in the hearts of art lovers.

When memories become slow-motion film.

I remember about five years ago, I arranged to meet People's Artist Hoang Thanh at his house for a weekend talk show on the occasion of the founding day of the Vietnam People's Army, December 22nd. Even through brief phone conversations, I sensed that he was a very gentle, easy-going person, not as flamboyant as I had imagined a talented musician to be.

During our conversation, his short stories and recollections of his musical life unfolded like a slow-motion film. I exclaimed several times:"Wow, you're so talented!","How is it that the musical legacy and values ​​left behind by him are so vast!"Throughout that conversation, I kept thinking: If only I had met him sooner, to witness this talented musician conducting a string orchestra, to see the major programs he directed, and to experience the atmosphere of works that are so familiar to the public.

With over 40 years of artistic activity and 23 years as conductor of the Military Region 4 Art Troupe, composer Hoang Thanh has left behind timeless songs such as..."Let go of my shirt.","The Volunteer Soldier and the Lam Toi Song","The sound of kite flutes from childhood"...Those melodies have passed through generations, permeating the memories of soldiers, the people of Nghe An province, and all those who love music.

He once confided that two elements shaped the musical soul within him: his homeland and his family. Hoang Thanh was born and raised by the poetic La River in Duc Phong village (now Duc Tho commune, Ha Tinh province) – where the folk songs and melodies of Nghe An province nurtured his soul from a young age. His father, artist Pham Hoang Tho, was the Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Literature and Arts Association and a multi-talented artist, playing the violin, working as a stage designer, and writing plays. It was his father who guided musician Hoang Thanh towards the path of art from the age of 15.

Hoang Thanh's passion for music began when he studied accordion at the Vietnam Academy of Music. In 1971, he returned to Nghe An to work at the 4th Military Region Art Troupe as a musician. During those years, Hoang Thanh taught himself composition and orchestral conducting. In 1975, he became the conductor of the 4th Military Region Art Troupe, also serving as a composer."The Volunteer Soldier and the Lam Toi Song"It was his debut work, and upon its release, it created a great impact, bringing composer Hoang Thanh's name closer to the public.

The People's Artist once told me about the circumstances surrounding the creation of that song: The performing arts troupe was performing for the soldiers during the battle to repel the Vang Pao rebels in Long Cheng (Laos). Despite being injured, with a crushed index finger that needed bandaging, he continued to play the piano to entertain the soldiers. It was in that emotion that the song was born. From then on, the passion for composing grew stronger in the soldier-musician. He wrote dance music for the troupe, and many of his works won Gold and Silver medals at the all-army and national levels.

After composing, the musician tried his hand at program editing and artistic staging. Musician Hoang Thanh was the first to breathe light music into the art scene of Nghe An - Ha Tinh. In 1985, a program directed by Hoang Thanh for the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union to participate in the National Youth Festival won a Gold Medal; the Lang Sen Festival also won first prize that same year. In 1995, the all-army art program of the 4th Military Region Art Troupe, directed by People's Artist Hoang Thanh, won a special award with 5 Gold Medals, including a Gold Medal for Meritorious Artist Thu Hang (Hoang Thanh's beloved wife) with the song"The Mother of Lang Sen Village"Subsequently, a series of programs directed by People's Artist Hoang Thanh all won Gold Medals.

In 2005, the composer wrote a four-movement choral piece with the melodies of Nghe Tinh folk songs and chants for the inauguration of Ho Chi Minh Square, winning the B Prize at the Ho Xuan Huong Awards. Hoang Thanh was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist in 2001 and People's Artist in January 2016 – a well-deserved recognition for his lifetime of dedication.

The soldierly quality in his musictalented artist

When talking about his journey to becoming a soldier-songwriter, the soldier-artist told me with surprisingly sincere words: "I am very grateful for my time in the military. Being able to live and immerse myself in the combat duties of a soldier while pursuing art has given me faith and love for life. And that is the powerful source of inspiration that has allowed me to create works that are well-received by the public. Songs like 'The Volunteer Soldier and the Lam Toi Song,' 'Let Go of Your Dress,' 'The Sound of the Kite Flute of Childhood'... are smooth, full of the charm of the homeland, thanks to that 'soldierly emotion'!"

Whether the story revolves around the war years or the artist's reflections on the breaks before musical reinventions, for him,"Music is the language of the heart, speaking to the heart. When other languages ​​fail, music speaks for it."That's the artist in him, and that's the soldier in him – carefree, free-spirited, very down-to-earth, very human.

In later years, I met him many times at various competitions, festivals, and art programs, both large and small, in my province. He often sat in the front row as an artistic advisor, judge, or simply as a commentator. His insightful, professional, yet sincere remarks contributed to many profound art programs, providing audiences with valuable musical experiences.

Then, for the past few years, I haven't seen him sitting in that seat anymore. Upon inquiring, I learned that he had fallen ill, and his condition worsened, leaving him bedridden. These past few days, my colleagues and I have been discussing when we should visit him...

The life of this talented soldier-musician has now come to an end. But the musical legacy he left behind, the melodies imbued with love for his homeland, humanity, and the spirit of a soldier, will live on forever. And in my memory, he will always be a talented, kind, and humble musician...