Musician Tran Cai - Heavy heart for homeland

(Baonghean) - We went to Quynh beach to visit musician Tran Cai on a sunny autumn afternoon. In the old house that still holds many of his memories from the years of hard work for his music career, we listened to him play the guitar, sing and talk about his career, the ups and downs, and the hardships of his artistic life.

Musician Tran Cai with his family.

Musician Tran Cai was born in 1945 in Phu Lien village, Quynh Long commune, Quynh Luu district. He is the second child in a family of 7 brothers and sisters. Inheriting the artistic blood from his mother (in the past, his mother used to sing a dao), he soon integrated into the local cultural life as Deputy Secretary of the village Youth Union.

In 1965, his father died in a bombing raid by the American invaders. Also in this year, following the call of the country, the young man Tran Cai, then only 20 years old, enlisted in the army. He joined the Nghe An Provincial Military Command's Artistic Assault Team, working as a musician, dancer, singer, choreographer... serving the heroic army and people on the front line and even going to Laos to carry out his mission.

The dance work “Opening the Road” praising the engineer soldier is one of his two typical works during this period staged by the IV National Art Troupe. In 1970, he transferred to work at the Western Song and Dance Troupe. In 1973, he studied at the Vietnam Music School (now the National Academy of Music). In 1978, he was the conductor of the Nghe Tinh Provincial Song and Dance Troupe, then the conductor and artistic director of the Nghe An Provincial Song and Dance Troupe.

During this time, his dance performance “Spring returns to the Kho Mu village” was honored with a Gold Medal at the National Professional Music and Dance Festival; a Silver Medal for the dance performance “Suoi Thai”. In addition, he was also awarded an A prize for: Conductor of the Nghe Tinh Music and Dance Troupe (1985) and a separate award for conductor of the Nghe Tinh Music and Dance Troupe at the National Professional Music and Dance Festival (1989).

In 1993, he retired but continued his writing career and enthusiastically built the cultural and artistic movement at the grassroots level. A number of works published during this time further affirmed Tran Cai's name, including two times he was awarded the Ho Xuan Huong Literature and Arts Award. Most recently, participating in the "Songwriting Campaign about Nghe An Youth", his work "Tuoi Tre Que Huong Toi" was awarded by the Provincial Youth Union and the Literature and Arts Association of Nghe An province.

The works “Unceasingly Missing Uncle Ho”, “Love for the Sea and Islands” – adapted from the poems of Nguyen Dang Viet, “Mother Thu” – adapted from the poems of Van Hien were staged by the Voice of Vietnam Radio Theater. Some of his works were staged and performed by Nghe An Radio and Television Station, the IV National Art Troupe, the Nghe An Ethnic Song and Dance Troupe and mass art troupes to serve the people.

Having sacrificed and devoted his talent and youth to the country since the days of war, the theme of the Party and Uncle Ho has always been a source of inspiration for his creativity. His successes on this theme include the work "Uncle's Spring" - poem by Tran Nguong. The song records important milestones in Uncle Ho's revolutionary life. With refined, emotional lyrics and gentle, passionate melody, the song expresses the author's respect, pride and gratitude for Uncle Ho. In the end, the author's "I" has become "we" with millions of people.

He said: “On May 19, 2002, I happened to watch a television program of Nghe An Radio and Television reporting the scene of people walking silently with folk songs and incense smoke to visit Uncle Ho's motherland - Lang Sen. The overwhelming emotions in my heart forced me to pick up the pen, and in just two hours the work "Unceasingly Missing Uncle Ho" was born”. This work of his was later awarded by the People's Committee of Nghe An province and performed by People's Artist Hong Luu in the album "Love of Nghe 3". And no matter what topic he writes about, the image and ideals of Uncle Ho always return in his compositions. This can be clearly seen through the lyrics: "Remembering the Party's and Uncle Ho's contributions so much, we dance and sing with great love for the West" in "Xon xao mien Tay", and "The mountains today are still difficult, Uncle Ho's words light up our path" in "Vui hoi mien Tay", or "How beautiful are the boys and girls in Nghe An homeland, following Uncle Ho's example lights up our faith and love" in "Tuoi tre que huong toi".

During the period from 1970 to 1973 when he returned to work at the Western Song and Dance Troupe, he only composed dances and was a musician, and had not composed music. However, the folk culture of the ethnic groups in the mountainous region of Nghe An with campfire nights, festivals such as gong festivals, harvest festivals... with the sounds of flutes, panpipes, xuoi, lam, xoe; the passionate, inviting songs... have seeped into his blood and flesh, urging him to return more times and continue composing. Up to now, he has had more than 10 songs about the mountainous region, typically: "New sunshine on the Western region", "Sounding in the Western region", "How beautiful is the Western girl", "Happy Western festival"...

In 2013, participating in the "Songwriting Contest on the theme of ethnic minorities in Nghe An province" organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism - Ethnic Minorities Committee of Nghe An province, he created the work "Vui hoi mien Tay" (adapted from the poem of Cam Thach) which left a deep impression on the public: "...Why don't you come back to enjoy the gong festival, boys and girls come back here, filling the mountain. The village is waiting for the moon. You are not happy dancing and singing alone...". The melody is gentle, affectionate, full of the folk music of the ethnic groups in the mountainous region of Nghe An. The lyrics are simple, pure, witty, carrying the breath of life of the people here. The lyrical character's clever reproach in the song is a deeply moving invitation.

Besides the songs praising the Party, beloved Uncle Ho; songs about ethnic minorities in the mountainous region... his songs about mothers are also very special such as: "Mother's Lullaby", "Song for Mother". Particularly "Song for Mother" is the song he composed to pay tribute to his deceased mother. The passionate melody has given wings to the gentle and emotional lyrics: "... Oh my mother, oh my mother, the years of hard work and toil to raise children. A little joy when we grow up, how pitiful are your eyes when we are still not good... Oh mother! Wherever I go or where I return, you are like a shade covering my head. Wherever I go or where I return, your life is where I return". Although his compositions about mothers are not many, just with those sweet melodies is enough to feel the warmth of a heart filled with deep affection!

He spent his whole life working to create art to serve the people, but the feeling of being indebted to his homeland made him worry a lot. That is why musician Tran Cai did not allow himself to stop at the successes he had achieved. The songs he continuously composed after his retirement further proved the maturity of a talented writer. About his motherland Quynh Luu alone, he composed 13 songs (including two songs about Quynh Long, the land where he was born and raised), praising the people who are working hard day and night to build their homeland.

And it has become a custom that when each brainchild is born, his wife - Mrs. Tran Thi Hai Yen (a girlfriend from the same village, who has been with him since the time he was a performer serving the front line) is the first to audition. Tran Cai recalls that in 1965, he joined the Nghe An Provincial Military Command's Assault Artistic Team, and a year later, after finishing a period of civilian labor at the Hoang Mai quarry (Quynh Luu), Mrs. Hai Yen also joined the Provincial Military Command's Assault Artistic Team. During the 5 years, she was a performer serving the heroic military and civilians on the front line. She had a very sweet, clear and high voice. After performing, she returned to participate in local productions. She was a diligent woman, taking care of family matters so that her husband could work with peace of mind. Musician Tran Cai added that in the past, his wife was very good at making salt.

For a true artist, what greater happiness is there than when their works, which are like their brainchildren, are widely accepted by the masses? And that is why Tran Cai - a man who always feels indebted to his homeland - is still passionate about writing and creating even in his twilight years!

For more than 10 years, he has been a judge for the Lang Sen Singing Festival. He is currently a cultural and artistic advisor for his district and is a typical representative of the cultural and artistic sector in the district's Fatherland Front. For more than 6 years, he has held the position of Chairman of the Quynh Long Commune Education Promotion Association, and is also a member of the Commune Veterans Association...

Nguyen Hoe