Pull the velvet curtain...
18 years since the "Alone" liveshow and 10 years since musician Thanh Tung left the temporary realm, each fan has kept different memories of him. That is probably the reason why the program organizing team named the music night to commemorate him "Legacy of love: Legacy of love". On the evening of August 15, Thanh Tung's music lovers had the opportunity to call back memories together, in a form that has never been more romantic and magnificent.
The melodies that were too familiar are placed in a different musical space, when musician Tran Manh Hung remixes all of Thanh Tung's works in classical crossover language. More than 100 artists from CAM Philharmonic and the Gio Xanh choir, under the direction of conductor Marc Ramirez, participate in that recreation. The orchestra itself becomes a part of the story, opening up the layers that have long hidden behind each song.
The person playing the role of Concertmaster is a young but strange but familiar violinist: Tran Le Quang Tien, who many years ago was known as the "Violin prodigy" of Vietnam. Returning from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt, Germany, Quang Tien for the first time took on the position of Concertmaster in a music night dedicated to Thanh Tung's compositions.
When he and the orchestra pulled the velvet curtain with "Love Without Borders", a magnificent space of memories seemed to be revealed.
Interestingly, "Tinh khong bien gioi" (Love Without Borders) - originally a lyrical song - was first adapted into an instrumental piece. No longer the leading voice, the melody speaks on its own through the harmonies, the layers of harmony and dialogue between instruments.
That is also how Tran Manh Hung continues to handle "Trái tim hoang vu", "Mưa ngâu", "Ván bài lật ngửa" or "Nếu tôi chết hãy chôn tôi" (If I die, bury me) with the guitar. Works that are inherently associated with the memory of listeners are taken out of the familiar form of a light music piece, appearing with the luxury and magnificence of instrumental music. The sounds of Oboe, Flute, Saxophone, the strings and the dialogues between the harmonies, sometimes hidden, sometimes visible, make the melody more open, full and magnificent.
Tran Le Quang Tien shared that for an artist who is trained in classical music, when playing academic works, attention is often paid to style, sound processing, nuances and structure. But with Thanh Tung's music, it is more important to maintain the singing nature and the story of the melody. Classical technique is still present, but is restrained to serve the melody and emotions, instead of becoming an intrinsic purpose.
Perhaps that's why the symphony of Legacy of Love does not overwhelm the melodies that already have their own life. The orchestra sometimes creates a feeling of openness and luxury, but does not make listeners forget the melodies and songs they have memorized.
Real emotions surged when the audience enjoyed "Counting Leaves Outside the Yard" - a work composed into instrumental music for piano and orchestra. The performer is Tran Le Bao Quyen, a female pianist associated with romantic classical works. The piano sound resounded like each drop of water of memories, sometimes ticking, sometimes rushing. Memories rushed back into the auditorium, and each lyric kept murmuring: "Sitting counting fallen leaves on the yard/ Counting how many times you passed/ Sitting counting faint months and years/ Offering so much longing...".
Spread a patch of green grass to bring memories back
There are many role changes when comparing Legacy of Love and Alone. In his last liveshow, Thanh Tung first introduced two compositions Ancient Story of Nghi Tam and Yellow Chrysanthemum. At that time, Ancient Story of Nghi Tam was performed by Tung Duong, while Yellow Chrysanthemum was sung by My Dung and quickly became one of the most touching performances of the program.
18 years later, those two songs returned to the same stage, but Thanh Lam sang Chuyện cổ Nghi Tàm, and Tùng Dương sang Hoa cúc vàng.
Yellow Chrysanthemum" is a song written by Thanh Tung right before the liveshow. He and My Dung only had one afternoon of rehearsal together. While rehearsing, he also corrected the lyrics. When he stepped onto the stage, the musician was still holding a piece of paper in his hand. Then he sang with My Dung: "Last night you were here, why didn't you stop by my house. Why didn't you come home to visit me? I miss you so much...".
The audience at that time could hear in his voice the trembling of a man missing his deceased wife.
Now Tung Duong sings "Hoa cuc vang" (Yellow Chrysanthemum), because of memories or because of "old and new voice", making the male singer evoke exactly that trembling in a completely new, poignant and lingering remix. Although he has sung this song many times in the past 10 years.
With "Chuyen co Nghi Tam", Thanh Lam brings a deep personal reminiscence, with a bit of regret but not sadness, because in it there is still excitement and peace of mind before the changes of life as it is. And listeners follow the sound of the nguyệt thanh - in and the trống chầu trầm - don't wait to return to Hanoi in the gentle and quiet 90s.
My Linh chose a more meticulous way of recounting memories with Spring Confession and Old Way We Return. She maintains the familiar melodies with their inherent sophistication and gentleness, so that listeners can easily recognize the sounds that have been associated with their memories.
Le Quyen brought to Em va toi and Giot nang ben them with characteristic lyrical quality. She is not one of the voices often mentioned first when talking about Thanh Tung's music, but Le Quyen's appearance adds a passionate look to love songs that have had too many imprints in the hearts of listeners.
And My Anh is truly a clear patch of sunshine. Among the four voices that have had too many experiences, Giot Suong Tren Mi Mat through My Anh's voice becomes fresh, sparkling, and full. Looking at her on stage, viewers deeply feel the most beautiful meaning of the two words "legacy" in Legacy of Love. Heritage is not just songs preserved intact in memory. Heritage is when those melodies continue to be received by another generation and speak out the voice of their own generation.
Therefore, singers who have sung Thanh Tung's music for more than half their lives probably do not need to try to refresh those songs at all costs. Listeners to Legacy of Love do not need another Thanh Tung, and even more so do not need familiar hits to be dressed in a more trendy form. They just need to return.
That is also the most beautiful thing in Tran Manh Hung's way of refreshing Thanh Tung's music. He does not try to create a different version or find ways to prove that old songs can still be trendy. The new arrangements are simply spreading a patch of green grass for the urging memories to return, self-indulging, whispering.
