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Sr. Capt. Pham Van Trinh performs at Tan Trieu campus of K Hospital. |
Born in 1995 in Thanh Hoa province, Trinh inherited his passion for traditional music from his family. His mother loves Cheo (Vietnamese popular opera) and Cai luong (reformed opera), while his father frequently listens to folk tunes and traditional music. These melodies naturally became part of his childhood memories. During his high school years, Trinh began actively exploring Xam (music of blind buskers) through performances by artisan Ha Thi Cau. The more he listened, the more he wanted to understand it deeply, and he taught himself to practice what he heard.
In 2013, as a cadet at the Military Technical Academy, he confidently took the stage during an event for freshmen to sing a verse of Vong co (nostalgia) from the song “Hoa tim bang lang” (Purple color of crepe myrtles). The enthusiastic response from the audience gave him the motivation to delve deeper into the world of traditional melodies.
Following a period of study in Viet Nam, in 2015, Trinh went to Russia to study at Bauman Moscow State Technical University. Upon returning to Viet Nam in 2019, he joined traditional music clubs “Cheo 48h - Toi cheo ve que huong” and “Xam 48h.” Concurrently, he collaborated with the Center for Promotion of Viet Nam’s Intangible Cultural Heritage to organize community performances.
Trinh shared that traditional Vietnamese music is not fully captured in words, staves, or musical scores, noting that its true beauty largely lies beyond what can be notated and is instead embedded in generations of people who have cherished, taught, and preserved it. He added that this open space makes traditional music not only something to listen to but also an object of reflection, enabling everyone to delve deeper into the cultural layers, memories, and spiritual beauty left by their ancestors.
His persistent engagement in traditional arts has been marked by memorable achievements. In 2019, he and the “Xam 48h” group won a consolation prize at the Northern region’s Xam singing festival. In 2022, the group continued to secure one second prize and two consolation prizes at the open Xam singing festival.
His attachment to traditional arts has given Trinh the opportunity to bring his favorite melodies into the cultural and artistic lives of the troops. In 2024, he and the Military Weaponry Institute’s art troupe participated in the festival of lullabies, folk songs, and Vietnamese traditional music among military women held by the General Department of Political Affairs of the Viet Nam People’s Army, winning first prize. He was personally awarded a certificate of merit by the General Department of Defense Industry.
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Senior Captain Pham Van Trinh (center) wishes to bring traditional art closer to young people and international friends. |
Beyond performing, Trinh seeks to breathe new life into traditional music by writing new lyrics suited to contemporary themes. In 2023, he was the youngest participant to win a consolation prize at a contest held in Hanoi for composing new poetic lyrics for different styles in Ca tru (ceremonial singing). He also wrote new lyrics for a Xam song about the Military Weaponry Institute, drawing inspiration from the unit’s 80-year history of building and development, to perform at cultural events.
Amidst blueprints, technical specifications, and precision-demanding tasks, Trinh still reserves a special place for melodies passed down through generations. To him, learning and practicing traditional arts is not just about preserving a song or a singing style, but about continuing the cultural transmission so that the values entrusted by our ancestors remain alive today.
Translated by Duc Bien