Musician Tran Quang Hai, working for France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), has performed various traditional Vietnamese songs and melodies in front of international audiences over the world with a spoon and some small j-harps.
The musician said that he could travel, along with his spoon, around the world without any charge for meals. Wherever he goes, music-lovers often highly appreciate his performances and give him free meals.
Musician Kieu Tan, popular for his study on a slack-key guitar, recalled his interesting memory of his friend, musician Tran Quang Hai, that some years ago, he had a suspicion when musician Hai asked him whether he would like to taste Pho for free of charge in Germany.
After enjoying a bowl of Pho, musician Hai took a spoon from his bag and beat it on his hands, legs and mouth. Interestingly, it sounded as a joyful melody, attracting a lot of table companions. The seller openly expressed his admiration for musician Hai, and said that the restaurant will welcome him and offer him free meal whenever he goes there.
Musician Hai has, so far, had over 3,000 talks in 65 countries around the world. He has attended 130 international music congresses and festivals, given lectures at more than 120 universities, and composed over 400 musical works. A number of his studies have been internationally recognised.
His musical road is towards interaction of diversity with traditional musical genres, contributing to make the world closer.
Born in 1944 into a traditional music family, musician Tran Quang Hai graduated from the piano faculty at a university in Ho Chi Minh City. In 1961, he studied in the reputed University of Sorbonne. Since 1968, he has attached to the CNRS.
Source: TNTS
Translated by Mai Huong