Music always plays a vanguard role on culture-arts front (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – Musicians do not stand aside when the country is in danger. With different perspectives and feelings, they have raised their own voices in the language of music to prevent and repel COVID-19.
Even in the fiercest battles throughout the nation's history, music helped soothe the soul. In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, too, musicians wrote new songs to encourage and share their feelings to compatriots and soldiers, especially those on the frontline against the pandemic.
On the occasion of Vietnam Music Day (September 3), the Vietnam Composers’ Association (VCA) will hold an online music show “Tieng hat at COVID” (Singing through COVID) to introduce songs about the fight. Its Chairman, composer Do Hong Quan shared the meaning of the show with VietnamPlus.
“Pioneering” role of music
- Would you please comment on the role of music in today’s life when the pandemic remains?
Do Hong Quan: Music is always a sharp and quick weapon accompanying the nation on the road to nation construction.
Since the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has broken out with complicated and uncertain developments. Together with the entire Party, army and people, artists nationwide made positive contributions with new music pieces to offer timely encouragement to front-liners.
Their new songs conveyed meaningful messages, serving as a therapy for the soul. Music always plays a “pioneering” role on culture-art front.
Composer Do Hong Quan, Chairman of the Vietnam Composers’ Association (Photo: VietnamPlus) - In fact, musicians raised their voices through music. Would you please elaborate the VCA’s activities in the fight?
Do Hong Quan: In April 2020, the VCA launched a drive to compose new songs about the fight against COVID-19 and received over 200 entries. It selected 100 quality songs, published a collection of songs entitled “Niem tin” (Confidence) and held an online music show named “Niềm tin chúng ta là người chiến thắng” (Believe we are winners) which was highly welcomed by the public.
Following the fourth pandemic wave, the VCA launched the second drive and received more than 400 entries at home and abroad in a short time. Of them, the VSA chose 20 songs to record and make clips to broadcast on the programme “Singing through music”.
Recently, the VCA and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) also held the competition “Giai điệu nơi tuyến đầu” (Melody on the front line).
-Would you please assess the quality of over 400 new songs via the drive?
Do Hong Quan: Amid social distancing, composers, singers studio technicians overcame difficulties to promptly introduce new pieces to the public on the social media.
I really appreciate them for working with the VCA to show solidarity and determination to win over the pandemic.
Singing voices contribute to anti-pandemic work
- Would you please talk more about the programme “Singing through music”?
Do Hong Quan: Its first edition was on air in late August, and the second is scheduled for 10am on September 3 to celebrate Vietnam Music Day, attracting artists from the Army Theatre, the Military University of Culture and Arts, art troupes from the Military Zone I, singer Le Anh Dung, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Dinh Tham, and others.
Composers will also share their inspiration to write new songs to audiences.
Singer Dao To Loan in a music show on August 27 (Photo: Screenshot) - Gathering artists in the online programme met difficulties, did not it?
Do Hong Quan: Due to social distancing, it was impossible to gather a large number of people in a studio, forcing us to record each part separately, then complete a work. Filming also became hard as it was impossible to shoot scenes in open spaces such as streets and parks. Therefore, there were only scenes of singers performing in the studio and images of the fight to match content of songs.
I would like to thank musicians who enthusiastically submitted entries, singers and artists nationwide for recording performances.
- Did you compose any song about the theme, could you share?
Do Hong Quan: I composed two songs. The first is “Mẹ ơi con sẽ về” (Mom, I will return) about the mood of a young female doctor who sent her baby to her mom to go to the epicenter of the pandemic. The song will be performed by singer Bui Trang on September 3.
The second is “Cùng Sài Gòn san sẻ yêu thương” (Sharing love with Saigon) sent to those in quarantine areas with hearts of people nationwide, instilling the belief in the arduous battle that we are bound to win. The song was performed by singer Dao To Loan in a show on August 29.
