Musician Thao Giang and his students
He is a musician who owes a great debt to folk music, and has made great contributions to the revival, preservation and development of Xam art. Previously, he had invested in researching and collecting Xam songs from folk artists to teach and pass on the profession.
The musician was born in 1948 in Ha Tay (old), now Hanoi, and is a lecturer at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. He has just received the State Prize for Literature and Arts for two works: "Telling the Harvest Story" and "Love for the Homeland".
During his teaching career, musician Thao Giang has compiled many textbooks for the two-stringed fiddle, creating a basic foundation for students to grasp quickly and apply after a short time to participate in performances. He also composed for a number of traditional musical instruments such as: "Huong rung" (Thirteen-six fiddle), "Ao ca Bac Ho" (zither), "Du thuyen tren song Huong" (monochord), "Duong xa vui nhung tieng dan" (pi ba).
Professor, Musician The Bao wrote on his personal page: "Farewell to musician Thao Giang, the famous erhu artist who contributed a lot to the restoration of traditional arts, especially the traditional music performance program at Hanoi Walking Street. The public will always remember him."
Artist Thu Nghiem (Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music) wrote: "I remember the days when you and I sat down to study how to properly express the nature of the song "The distant road echoes forever the sound of the guitar". 3 days ago, I just thought of re-arranging this song, I didn't have time to call you to ask for your comments on how to make the work more effective... Goodbye, teacher, where you are again wandering with traditional music"
Artist Pho Thanh Van recalled some very touching memories: "On a cold autumn day in 2010, we had the chance to meet you. We understand and love Vietnamese folk culture thanks to you! Your works are imbued with Vietnamese soul, you can immediately feel Vietnam when you hear them, and it is difficult for future generations to do the same. You taught and guided us from small to large stages, from the folk art stage in Hanoi's Old Quarter to the recording sessions of programs broadcast on VTV... From the days when we were students, we were favored, which is a very lucky thing... And from here, many relationships were formed into a profession for us to pursue.... We will always be grateful to you".
Artist Mai Tuyet Hoa, one of musician Thao Giang's students, said the musician's health has declined in recent years, causing him to be less active in the arts.
In 2004, musician Thao Giang convinced many people who shared the same passion to revive the traditional art form. Unlike the village Xam of artist Ha Thi Cau, musician Thao Giang focused on reviving the Xam genre of Hanoi. The musician is also the teacher of many famous two-stringed fiddle artists such as The Dan, Dinh Nghi, Si Toan, and Van Ha.
Thanks to his efforts, Xam was performed again at the "Folk Song Festival 2005" after many years of absence. He and Professor Pham Minh Khang used their own money to establish the Center for Development of Vietnamese Music Arts, with the purpose of collecting, researching, teaching, training, performing, and introducing traditional music.
Musician and music critic Nguyen Quang Long remembers the first time he met musician Thao Giang at the end of 2004, at the Music Publishing House. He said: "If we do not join forces, in the future, the art of Xam of our ancestors will no longer exist."
Professor The Bao said that thanks to his efforts in gathering many talented artists such as Thanh Ngoan, Xuan Hoach, Tu Cuong, Thuy Ngan, Doan Thanh Binh, Van Ty, Pham Minh Khang, Hanh Nhan... to perform and teach the young generation, they were loved and remembered by the public.
Musician Thao Giang created the art program "Ha Thanh 36 streets", which takes place every Saturday and Sunday evening in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
He also released the CD "Xam Ha Thanh", held a ceremony to commemorate the founder of the Xam profession at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, and was behind the program "Xam singing and military drums to celebrate the New Year of the Rat" in 2008 at the Hanoi Opera House.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/van-nghe/nghe-si-thuong-tiec-nhac-si-thao-giang-20231025122639653.htm
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