Musician The Hien: The soldier without a military rank

When musician Bao Huy, son of People's Artist The Hien, informed me of his passing at 9:30 pm on October 1, even though I knew about his illness, I was still silent and deeply moved. That beloved brother and colleague had passed away.

Musician The Hien on a trip to Truong Sa - Photo: FBNV

During the days of preparing for the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, I went to visit him at his home. At this time, his health was better than before. He told me a lot about his plans to compose a new work about Ho Chi Minh City, his voice was still as passionate as ever and his eyes shone with love and optimism...

All youth roamed through the fronts

Musician Thế Hiển is considered by his colleagues to be a very enthusiastic artist, passionate about art and eager to learn. Growing up from the mass art movement, he has always constantly practiced and studied to affirm his professional ability.

In 1995, he continued his university studies at the Department of Composition and Vocal Music, Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music and graduated with honors in both vocal music and composition.

The Hien's works are very diverse with many themes: about soldiers, love of homeland, love of people, maternal love, children's themes...

I was fortunate to have many opportunities to collaborate with him during his artistic career and have come to understand why traditional revolutionary music and songs of love for the homeland have become the mainstream music in his creative career.

Musician The Hien sings the song "Rung orchid branch" which he composed - Source: HTV

In 2017, when I was working at the Military Region 7 art troupe, musician The Hien met me and expressed his wish to perform his own music night at a military unit.

He said that during his youth, he traveled across the battlefields, border areas, and islands to bring songs and musical instruments to serve the soldiers. His composing career also had many beloved works, but the happiest thing for him was singing on a simple stage, next to the soldiers who were day and night firmly holding their guns to protect the country.

I heard his thoughts and was very moved, immediately asked for opinions from leaders at all levels, discussed with agencies and units and received great support. So the Military Region 7 art troupe had a private music night with musician The Hien at Division 5, Military Region 7 with dozens of his timeless works, in the enthusiastic cheers of thousands of officers and soldiers.

Another memory with Mr. The Hien is that in 2018, he and I were members of the 13th working group's voyage to visit and encourage the soldiers and people of Truong Sa island district, Khanh Hoa province.

During the days of drifting, overcoming strong winds and waves to reach the island, he sometimes felt unwell due to seasickness, but witnessing the way he sang and danced enthusiastically with the young soldiers, few people would have thought he was 63 years old. And I understood more that in his heart, the love for the soldiers was very sacred.

Musician Thế Hiển is considered to be a composer who does not compose much but writes with confidence, each song is well-defined. Thế Hiển's music is simple, not sophisticated but has its own unique style with light music and folk melodies. He always researches, thinks deeply and finds the material of each region when applying some folk melodies to his works.

In the comments of many colleagues and audiences who love him, the themes in his songs are very broad and diverse, because the works were born from trips across the country, from his concerns, distillation of love for life, love for people and thus penetrated and permeated deep into the hearts of the people.

His life and career have ended, but I and many others will forever remember the image of musician and singer The Hien always carrying a guitar with him, performing with all his heart wherever he went to serve the soldiers and people with the spirit of a "soldier without a military rank".

Funeral information of People's Artist - Musician The Hien

Location: Southern National Funeral Home No. 5 Pham Ngu Lao, Go Vap, HCMC

Time: Burial and funeral: 12 noon Saturday, October 4

The funeral begins at 2:00 p.m. on October 4.

Memorial Service: 7am Tuesday, October 7

Burial at Binh Duong Cemetery

Musician The Hien in his youth - Photo: FBNV

People's Artist The Hien was born in 1955, his hometown is Nam Dinh. After the country's reunification, musician The Hien was the core of the shock performance programs serving the propaganda work in the early days of Ho Chi Minh City's liberation.

In 1980, he was selected by the Lotus Art Troupe to become the troupe's lead soloist. In 1982, he began his composing career, with his debut work When the Balloons Fly, which was very popular.

In 1983, he was one of the artists who volunteered to serve the soldiers fighting at the northern border. During a trip, he composed the song "Sing About Me". The song quickly became popular and helped him become famous and loved by many people.

In 1986, he and the Bong Sen Art Troupe performed for the soldiers at the 479 front (Siem Reap, Cambodia), and the song "Rung Lan Branch" was born. In addition, many of his songs about the Youth Volunteers such as "Old Stories, Today's Stories", "Singing on the Green Farm"... became songs that were memorized by the youth generation at that time.

Musician The Hien was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist in 2012; in October 2023, he was awarded the title of People's Artist.

People's Artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhac-si-the-hien-nguoi-linh-khong-mang-quan-ham-20251003081135305.htm