“I was born to belong to folk music”
+ Dear Meritorious Artist Tan Nhan, what is the opportunity that makes you love and pursue traditional, folk music?
- Since I was a child, I have naturally loved folk music. Perhaps, I was born to belong to this music genre. At that time, people liked to listen to foreign music, but I only liked to listen to the folk music program of the Voice of Vietnam. Therefore, since I was a child, I dreamed of pursuing folk music. Determination to enter the National Academy of Music of Vietnam was also the way for me to realize my dream.
Throughout my career, I have constantly strived to produce folk music products and later dedicated myself to singing original traditional music to bring to the public at home and abroad, bringing the love of traditional music to young people, specifically the students I am directly training at HVANQGVN. I think it all comes from love.
For Meritorious Artist Tan Nhan, becoming a lecturer is to extend his love for traditional music. Photo: NVCC
Become a lecturer to extend the love for traditional music
+ Did you choose to become a vocal teacher because you wanted to spread the love of traditional music to the younger generation?
- I chose to become a vocal instructor because I want to “pass on” to my students the love of music, how to cultivate, nurture, and develop the love for music in general, the music genre that each student pursues in particular, not just traditional music. I also want to share the experience I have accumulated with them, contributing to the training of musical talents for Vietnamese music.
In my teaching, I always guide students to love and love more traditional Vietnamese music. By loving traditional music, they will love the Vietnamese soul more and understand more about the cultural identity of their nation. This is not only my way to extend the love for traditional music to the younger generation, but also a way to help them deepen their cultural and emotional understanding when pursuing a musical career. I consider this very important, helping artists have cultural depth.
+ Having been active in the arts for nearly 20 years, how have you maintained your passion for folk music until now?
- Since I was a child, I grew up listening to the folk songs of my homeland, naturally passionate about the folk songs of the three regions of the nation... All of these have been deeply ingrained in my blood, helping me become a folk Tan Nhan like today. Honestly, it is very difficult to clearly say why I have kept the passion for traditional music alive, I can only answer: Because of love!
I think every Vietnamese person grows up and is nurtured by the beauty of traditional music. Our national music is very rich, diverse and is “nourished” from generation to generation, generation to generation and forever. So not only me but certainly many Vietnamese people love traditional music as they love the cultural identity of their country.
The traditional music of our country is very beautiful. When we enjoy or sing it, we can see the flow of history and culture of the nation, see the spiritual life and soul of the Vietnamese people in their daily lives from the past to the present. Therefore, I really want to spread the beauty of traditional Vietnamese music to young people, from my students to the audience, so that each of us can contribute our small efforts to preserve and promote the beauty of national music.
Always respect the way of doing and thinking of the young generation
+ Recently, many young people have renewed traditional music, for example, the song "Come back to listen to mother's lullaby" by People's Artist Bach Tuyet and singer Hoang Dung released in 2022, the song "Last ray of light" by rapper Wowy in collaboration with People's Artist Bach Tuyet released in 2023... What do you think about this renewal?
- I always respect the way of doing and thinking of the younger generation. You understand your generation, so you should have ways of doing things that are suitable for your generation. The combination of modern music genres with traditional music is also very encouraging, because I think traditional music needs more ways and aspects to spread.
I believe that when People's Artist Bach Tuyet decided to cooperate with young people, she saw the special benefits to further spread traditional arts such as Cai Luong to the younger generation. For those who love traditional music deeply like us, seeing such activities can only bring joy and encouragement.
Even for myself, when I wanted to bring traditional Vietnamese music closer to world music, I also chose to combine it with a symphony orchestra. This is both to renew the work to suit today's music listeners, to approach world music trends to conquer multinational audiences, and to honor traditional music to a new level when it can blend with the pinnacle of music, chamber symphony.
Meritorious Artist Tan Nhan became known to the public when participating in the contest "Sao Mai 2005". Photo: NVCC
As a music educator, I hope to see more love for folk music and more creative ways to bring folk music to life in the community, in the spiritual life of today's generation and to the world.
+ Some opinions say that traditional, folk music is gradually losing its position and is less listened to. What do you think about this?
- Not only in Vietnam, but also in the world, traditional music of countries also faces difficulties in preserving, promoting and developing due to the diverse and strong development of modern entertainment life. And most countries need active participation with long-term strategies, efforts to preserve and promote national music.
Previously, I performed a famous Korean folk song called Arirang. I learned that Korea spent 33.6 billion won to promote and protect the song for 5 years. This plan aims to support the organization of “Arirang” festivals in each region, such as building a song archive, exhibitions, research funds, etc.
In our country, there are more and more strategies and plans to preserve and promote traditional music in today's life. One of the effects that I clearly see is that young artists today are actively exploiting traditional music materials for their songs, and many songs have become hits. With that effort and love, I believe that traditional music always has a way to develop and live in the community.
+ Thank you Meritorious Artist Tan Nhan!
Hoai Duc (Recorded)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nsut-tan-nhan-am-nhac-truyen-thong-cua-dat-nuoc-minh-dep-lam-post300050.html
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