Uncle Ho personally chose “Tien Quan Ca” as the National Anthem
“ He said that the lyrics of Kill the Fascists are short, easy to sing and easy to popularize, but The fascist regime has disintegrated, if the song Destroy the Fascists as the national anthem would be unfashionable. He said he liked the song Viet Minh Soldier the most, especially the last part: …The hatred of many years in the heart of the country is shattered / Blood and bones are ignited / Screams everywhere / Years gradually pass / Vows to restore the country. Go Vietnam!/Establish people’s rights. Go Vietnam!… But Uncle Ho did not choose this song as the National Anthem because he thought the long lyrics were difficult to sing. He also jokingly said that if this song was chosen as the National Anthem to sing to salute the flag, the people would… stand with tired legs. According to Uncle Ho, making Tien Quan Ca the National Anthem is the most appropriate. The song expresses the will and aspirations of the nation, is concise and easy to memorize, full of meaning, and the melody is majestic…” said poet and artist Van Thao.
Even though it was not chosen as the song National anthem, but later Destroy the Fascists and Viet Minh Soldiers were both loved and widely popular among the public.
Eldest son by the late talented musician Van Cao still remembers the genuine emotion mixed with happiness on his father’s face when Tiến Quân Ca rang out in every corner of the street along with the red flag. Yellow stars fluttered.
He recalled that on September 2, 1945, the song Tien Quan Ca was officially performed on the Declaration of Independence Day at Ba Dinh Square. by the Liberation Army band led by musician Dinh Ngoc Lien. Before the performance with musician Nguyen Huu Hieu, musician Dinh Ngoc Lien discussed with Van Cao and agreed to correct two words in Tien quan ca, specifically shortening the length of the first note in The word “Doan” and the mi note in the middle of the word “corpse” help make the music more exciting.
From the time it was personally chosen by Uncle Ho until 1955, the National Anthem kept the lyrics Tien Quan Ca. After 1955, the National Assembly invited musician Van Cao to participate in correcting some parts of the lyrics and becoming the current National Anthem. However, many times during his lifetime, Van Cao felt regretful because some words were edited, which diminished the heroic spirit of the song.
“Van Cao had the ability to predict ahead of its time”
In the memoir Why I Wrote Tien Quan Ca , musician Van Cao also said: “The news from Nam Dinh said that my mother and my siblings are hungry. They are looking for ways to get through the day like everyone else is waiting for a slow death that eats itself like a candle. The cries for help from my mother, my younger siblings, and my nieces and nephews echoed throughout the attic throughout our sleep that afternoon. Everyone is waiting for me to find a way to help. I have never held a gun and have not joined any armed forces. I’m just making a song. I have not known the war zone, only know the streets of Station Street, Hang Bong Street, Bo Ho Street according to my habit…”.
It is the poverty of the relatives of those whose lives are in danger. He had witnessed this endless flow of music, a melody in him suddenly surged and blended with the lyrics as if to burst out: “The Viet Minh army goes (later changed to The army Vietnam goes)…
According to poet and painter Van Thao, his father had the ability to predict ahead of his time right from the moment he wrote Tien Quan ca< /i>. In 1944, at that time, there was only the hammer and sickle flag. It was not until 1945, when the August Revolution was successfully established, that the people chose the red flag with a yellow star as the National Flag. Yet Van Cao wrote: “The Viet Minh army went/Golden stars fluttered/Leading the homeland race through miserable places…”.
Not just a premonition about The success of the late talented musician’s Revolution also affirms the correct historical value of the song and has faith in the song being loved by the people. “He is confident that his “brainchild” has lived for nearly 40 years and has affirmed its vitality and historical value. If it’s history, how can we erase it…” Van Thao recalls his beloved father’s assertion in the 80s – when for the first time the National Anthem was in danger of being replaced.
< b>The ups and downs of the masterpiece that entered the hearts of the people
Looking back at the song associated with the long history of the sacred spiritual property of the late father; The musician’s son is now in his seventies and is contemplative as he reviews the ups and downs that the National Anthem’s fate has experienced.
In 1981, the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam planned to change the National Anthem. A contest was opened but after more than a year this contest was no longer mentioned and the results were not announced. Recalling Van Thao, he said that at that time his father was very sad when his “brainchild” was denied…
“Not only in the 80s, but before that there were individuals who proposed Discussing changing the National Anthem with Uncle Ho. What did you say, why are you guys discussing changing the National Anthem here? Wherever the red flag with yellow star flies, the National Anthem is heard. If you want to erase the red flag with a yellow star and erase the revolution, then consider changing the National Anthem,” said poet and artist Van Thao.
And most recently, the opinion of a National Assembly delegate for that it is necessary to correct some lyrics that are no longer appropriate in the National Anthem such as “Road of Glory builds the corpses of enemies” has raised many opinions on whether or not the lyrics of the National Anthem should be changed? Faced with this information, poet and artist Van Thao said that it was just the opinion of an individual and that his family had no opinion.
Nguyen Hang
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