MV "Quang Binh, our hometown"
"Quang Binh, My Hometown" (cello version) is the latest MV of Cellist Ha Mien, released in mid-February 2025. In particular, the composition of musician Hoang Van was composed for the cello by the son of the late musician - conductor Le Phi Phi. The MV records the 4-day, 3-night journey through the forest, crossing the stream to Son Doong cave of the exploration team and the female artist.
Not wearing a gorgeous dress or elaborate makeup as often seen on the classical music stage, Cellist Ha Mien wore a mountain climbing costume, sitting on a stone pedestal, breathing his soul into the unique, unique song of the skin, echoing in the wild, majestic scene of the world's largest natural cave.
The Cello was originally known as the queen of the lowlands in symphony orchestra, with a warm, melodious and emotional sound. The cello version of the song "Quang Binh, our hometown" brings a melody that is both passionate, calm, strong, and vibrant, as if containing pain, the spirit of strength in the past and the love of homeland, the national pride of the people of Quang Binh.
Referring to the opportunity to make this MV, Cellist Ha Mien said that before the Lunar New Year 2025, she accidentally received an invitation to join the journey to explore Son Doong Cave with the Oxalis Adventure exploration group. As an outdoor lover, especially trekking, she quickly accepted the invitation, bringing a cello with her cherished ability to play music in the midst of the magnificent scenery of the world's natural wonders.
The female artist shared: About 10 years ago, I went to Quang Binh to participate in a cave discovery program of Vietnam Television, admiring the mountain and forest landscape, the beautiful caves of the land favored by nature.
Therefore, as soon as I received the invitation to return here, which was also the first time I set foot in Son Doong Cave, the melody of the song "Quang Binh, my hometown" immediately rang in my mind, urging me to make a MV dedicated to the local people".
Before starting the journey, Cellist Ha Mien had the opportunity to meet composer Phi Phi from abroad returning on the anniversary of the late composer Hoang Van's death. Through time of discussion and working together, conductor Phi Phi personally recreated the cello version that stuck to the original spirit of the song for Ha Mien to perform. In addition, the opening and ending parts of the MV also especially use music composed by the late musician Hoang Van with the voice of singer Kim Oanh in 1965.
Singer Phi Phi said, "Quang Binh, my hometown" is a song with a melody reminiscent of Quang Binh's Ho Le Thuy melody combined with the sound of the Northern Delta. When composing this composition for the cello, the conductor focused on preserving the original melody, combining more European classical harmony periods, free running lines (cadenza)... with a series of unique solo techniques, creating a new song with a classic solo style.
MV solo by Cellist Ha Mien has a romantic, fresh melody, sung by a European classical instrument full of inner thoughts and emotions. In particular, the MV was made in Quang Binh itself, in Son Doong Cave - a famous place that not everyone can visit. This shows the careful preparation of the crew in terms of both sound, image as well as the spirit of dedication to the art of artist Ha Mien, said conductor Le Phi Phi.
A arduous but memorable journey
Before Ha Mien, there were a number of artists who recorded and filmed music videos at Son Doong cave. The most famous of which is " alone, Pt. II by Alan Walker and Ava Max. The song is about to reach 430 million views after 5 years of release, contributing to bringing the image of Vietnam's beautiful natural caves closer to the world public.
Ellist Ha Mien is the first Vietnamese artist to bring a musical instrument to perform at Son Doong cave, the cave exploration and MV making process encountered many difficulties. When the group departed around January, it was cold and humid, so she brought a waterproof carbon player instead of a wooden player to ensure safety. In addition, the exploration team also had to send a particular port to carry the bulky cello throughout the journey.
The female artist admitted that the journey to explore Son Doong Cave was extremely arduous and took a lot of energy. During the trip, the crew had to stop many times to rest and film the MV.
Although tired, I was really overwhelmed by the majesty of the natural wonders of Son Doong cave. I am truly happy to be able to set foot here, recording the moment of pulling the instrument in a majestic, beautiful and enchanting space that no film can fully depict, Cellist Ha Mien shared.
Before the trip, the female artist was informed by the exploration team that she was in the high-flowing season, with a loud noise affecting her live recording. Therefore, the crew had to record the song in the studio before and re-perform it many times in the cave to match the music, producing the best finished product.
In addition to making the MV, while exploring the cave system and underground lakes in Son Doong, Cellist Ha Mien also admired many beautiful natural cave scenes, learned about the strange animals, plants and creatures living here, listened to interesting stories from explorers or local people who have been attached to the "kingdom of caves" of Quang Binh for many years...
After a 4-day, 3-night journey to explore Son Doong Cave, Cellist Ha Mien still cannot forget the magnificent beauty of the world's largest natural cave, with the image of a blue lake, giant jelly bags hanging in the air or the rich vegetation growing in places with natural light... The female artist also always remembers the moment cold water poured on her in the weather of more than 10 degrees Celsius, or when pulling a cello at a small concert amidst the roaring water, resounding in the cave...
Through this music product, Cellist Ha Mien hopes to contribute to introducing the beauty of Son Doong more to domestic and international friends. At the same time, the female artist longs to be able to travel to many places with the Cheong cello, recording moments of performing at the wonders and beautiful natural scenery of the S-shaped strip of land.
Cellist Bui Ha Mien was born in 1983 in Hanoi in a family with an artistic tradition. She has been involved with the cello since childhood and has a special passion for this type of instrument. In the process of pursuing his passion, Ha Mien released the albums "Romance In Hanoi" and "Mien - Khi Cello hat" which were widely welcomed by the public. Currently, she is a lecturer in the Cello Department of the Vietnam National Academy of Music and a member of the Hanoi Symphony orchestra.
