The Song of My Homeland River - its lingering echoes remain.
(Baonghean.vn) - The first and only concert by poet-songwriter Nguyen Trong Tao, held on September 8th in Hanoi, was a resounding success, leaving many beautiful impressions on the audience. Let's hear some of the feelings expressed after the concert by this talented musician from Nghe An province. What's special is that these are the comments from friends, younger colleagues, and fellow countrymen of Nguyen Trong Tao, immediately after returning from the concert.
(Baonghean.vn) - The first and only concert by poet-songwriter Nguyen Trong Tao, held on September 8th in Hanoi, was a resounding success, leaving many beautiful impressions on the audience. Let's hear some of the feelings expressed after the concert by this talented musician from Nghe An province. What's special is that these are the comments from friends, younger colleagues, and fellow countrymen of Nguyen Trong Tao, immediately after returning from the concert.
Journalist and poet Van Khanh:Song of the Homeland River - The River of Life
The Nguyễn Trọng Tạo concert was titled "Song of the Homeland River" - a song that everyone knows, because it embodies the soul of the homeland, the flow of deep, poignant, and affectionate love. This song can be said to have contributed to the fame of artist Anh Thơ, becoming so closely associated with her that wherever Anh Thơ performs, the audience always requests her to sing it.
 |
| Singer Anh Thơ and "Khúc hát sông quê" (Song of the Homeland River) at the Nguyễn Trọng Tạo music night. Photo: Dân Trảo Nha |
On the night of September 8th, Anh Thơ truly gave it her all. The entire audience held their breath, captivated by her deep, poignant voice. Anh Thơ sang as if she were pouring out her heart, telling a story, or sobbing... like a child far from home. At the climax of the song, she put down the microphone, choked with emotion, then burst into tears again.
She was truly moved, and after the song, she confided that she had never been as touched as she was tonight – the only concert by the musician she admired, whose songs allowed her to shine. The sublime quality of "Song of the Homeland River" is the synergy between the work and the performing artist; it is the hallmark that has made the names of both the musician and the singer famous.
 |
| My hometown, Quan Ho village. The opening song of the "Songs of the Homeland River" music night. Photo: Dan Trao Nha. |
"My Quan Ho Village" was the opening song, uniquely impressive thanks to its innovative arrangement. The "Nam Dong Ke" group delivered a truly captivating and engaging performance, bringing a different breath of contemporary music. This song is a blend of folk music: it has the Quan Ho melodies of Kinh Bac, interwoven with folk songs from Nghe An, and overarchingly, the rhythm of modern music, creating a distinctive and unmistakable sound. As composer Thuy Kha described it, "My Quan Ho Village" is both familiar and strange, so close yet so sophisticated. Tonight, once again, this song soared across the stage, enchanting and captivating.
Meritorious Artist Phuong Thao performed "The Eyes of the Ferryman" with tenderness and sweetness, a song that many renowned composers have commented is truly a wonderful piece that Nguyen Trong Tao composed in the intoxication of love, deeply immersed in the people of Nghe An. Indeed, it perfectly reflects his style: rustic, simple, down-to-earth yet wonderfully elegant and sophisticated.
 |
| Composer Nguyen Trong Tao and composer Giang Son shared their thoughts on their collaborative song on stage. Photo: Dan Trao Nha |
The second part of the concert featured songs in a different style, blending subtlety and meaning in the lyrics with the surging energy of powerful, vibrant rock melodies. Songs like "Village Drum," "Unfortunate Cloud," "Sad Cricket," and "Four-Verse Poem" ignited the stage with their soaring, surging, and lively sounds.
With these songs, the audience gets the most complete appreciation of Nguyen Trong Tao's personality: It turns out that this "country bumpkin," who is so romantic, passionate, and down-to-earth, is actually incredibly urban, modern, vibrant, and enthusiastic. His songs have given the audience the fullest understanding. This confirms that Nguyen Trong Tao is a multi-faceted musician, blending folk and modern elements, creating a sophisticated sound for contemporary Vietnamese music.
It would be remiss not to mention the poems set to music by Nguyen Trong Tao in the "Homeland Song" evening. With "Grass and Rain" set to music by Giang Son, both composers shared on stage that this was an incredibly emotional and harmonious collaboration. Even with just the initial four lines of poetry, Nguyen Trong Tao and Giang Son embellished the work, making the poetry and music complete. Music and poetry are the shared spirit of both, not separate entities. This synergy created a wonderful song about love, longing, and devotion.
 |
| The auditorium was packed, and it was a sold-out concert with a large audience coming from many parts of the country. Photo: Dan Trao Nha |
"One Foolishness, One Me" was set to music by composer Phu Quang and titled "Chia" (Divorce). Phu Quang himself played the piano and sang the song, whispering as if telling a story, recounting the bitter and sweet, the losses and abundance, the separation and devotion... of love that we all experience.
The "Songs of the Homeland River" concert truly allowed the audience to return to themselves, to the river of their childhood, to reflect on their lives, to contemplate and love more, to cherish and appreciate the endless source and flow of the river of life.
Businessman Phan Ngoc Minh: Another Nguyen Trong Tao, very different.
Many people know Nguyen Trong Tao well; surely everyone has hummed the song "After more than half a lifetime of wandering... I return to bury my face in the river of my homeland...". He often referred to himself as a country bumpkin, and people knew him so well because of his rustic charm, the river of his hometown, and the Quan Ho folk music of his village.
.
 |
| Businessman Phan Ngoc Minh congratulates poet and musician Nguyen Trong Tao. Photo: Dan Trao Nha |
My Quan Ho Village, The Song of the Homeland River - these two songs are so famous and popular that they have a major flaw: they obscure the lighter, very fashionable, poignant, passionate, and madly loving side of Nguyen Trong Tao - a Nguyen Trong Tao who is not "country bumpkin" at all.
Another aspect is his poetic persona, his love poetry. Nguyen Trong Tao's love poems, as seen in Giang Son's song "Grass and Rain" or Phu Quang's "One Foolishness, One Me," are tender, charming, urban, passionate, and intensely intense...
 |
| Singer Trong Tan "gets into the groove" at the "Song of the Homeland" concert. Photo: Dan Trao Nha |
Nguyen Trong Tao's new music is fashionable and modern; this is the real Nguyen Trong Tao who broke countless hearts of women throughout his nearly 70-year life. Just give it a listen:The cricket is sad, the cloud is unhappy.especially the pictureFour Seasons: Autumn Love, Winter Love, Spring Love, Summer Love...Let's see.
If I were the organizer of his concert, I certainly wouldn't name the program "Songs of the Homeland River," but would choose a different name and a different approach to honor a more multifaceted Nguyen Trong Tao. I would want the public to know him more than what they already know, are already very familiar with, and are already too familiar with.
Who knows, maybe that "country bumpkin" will make another mistake, with another even more passionate night?!
Poet Thai Ngoc Hoang Thuong:
On the night of September 8, 2017, it was drizzling in Hanoi, as if the heavens were trying to ease the heat at the Grand Theatre where the Nguyen Trong Tao Concert was sold out.
The auditorium was packed, with friends and family traveling long distances to celebrate with him.
A talented and charming man. At the age of 70, he made the "foolish" decision to organize the first concert of his life...
 |
| Composer Phu Quang and composer Nguyen Trong Tao on stage at the concert. Photo: Dan Trao Nha |
For poets and songwriters, there are two greatest joys: firstly, when their work is presented to the public, and secondly, when it is loved and appreciated by readers and audiences. Poet and musician Nguyen Trong Tao has achieved both of these things.
For over 10 years, he has been like a teacher, an older brother, and a close friend to me, someone I can truly understand and empathize with...
Attending the Nguyen Trong Tao Music Night is like experiencing the boundless warmth of human kindness... The musicians and singers reciprocated his sincerity with their own genuine affection.
Singer Anh Thơ, who successfully performed the song "Khúc hát sông quê" (Song of the Homeland River), emotionally expressed her gratitude to the songwriter for helping her leave a lasting impression on audiences over the years.
Singers Trong Tan, Le Anh Dung, Phuong Thao, Phuong Anh, 5 Dong Ke, and Co La BAND also brought a full range of emotions to the audience during the music night...
Our guest, musician Giáng Son, shared the story of her first time appearing in a newspaper nearly 20 years ago. Her interviewer was poet and musician Nguyễn Trọng Tạo, in an article titled "I Want to Be Myself." It served as a bridge, connecting the poetry and music of Nguyễn Trọng Tạo and Giáng Son, making them intertwined and need each other like "Grass and Rain..."
 |
| The faces of friends and fellow villagers from Nghe An province attending the concert by composer Nguyen Trong Tao. Photo: Dan Trao Nha |
Musician Phu Quang appeared on stage and humorously said, "Tonight everyone will hear a very bad voice, and I said I could do it, and I can do it..." The audience applauded and laughed. The whole hall fell silent as he sang "One Foolishness, One Me," a song by poet Nguyen Trong Tao that he had set to music. He sang from the heart.
A concert that exceeded all expectations, a result of the organizers' efforts and the contributions of friends, colleagues, and audience members, is the most precious reward for the poet and musician. He deserves to be honored for his creative career.
What surprised me was that although he wasn't an official, I saw many Deputy Ministers, Ministers, and even the City Chairman in attendance in the invited seats.
And it helped me realize once again that poetry and music are always a bridge that brings people closer together!
TV (recorded)