An Evening of Poetry and Music – Traces of Previous Lives and Love Songs for the Homeland, Part 17 of a Multi-part Series

“Night Blooming Jasmine” is the name of a flower that gives off a fragrant scent at night. Ladies and gentlemen, someone compared the fragrance of this flower to that of a woman, especially our Vietnamese women. As you saw tonight in this very formal program, the lady Supreme Master Ching Hai has glorified our Vietnamese women abroad. A flower has inspired composer Phạm Duy to write the song “Night Blooming Jasmine.” Most specially, Mai Hương would like to sing and dedicate this song to the “White Lily” Supreme Master Ching Hai.

“The night’s fragrant as a stream of perfumed milk Gently we meander to the front terrace Beloved scent from the distant past returns Permeating the alley, under the nocturnal sky. A peaceful road, a familiar trail, Youthful affection knows no bound! The sound of music in the night, Reaches those who adorn life. Tread softly, o fragrance of night! Tread softly, o fragrance of night! Sparkling moon visits once again Breeze carries the fragrance in fluttering clouds. The night’s perfumed not by flowers But because of our genuine love for peace. Life is sweet and love exhilarating In happiness, we live for others Life is joyful as bees around sweetened fruits Collecting honey to sustain life Softly tap your fingers, o world! Gently tap your fingers, o humanity! stain life. Every night before retiring We earnestly offer our prayer That the night may be fragrant once more And that we’ll stay in love forever…!”

The magical flutist, Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa, that is the audience’s honorable name for flutist Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa. Tonight, you will learn and hear something about several Vietnamese folk instruments, as well as enjoy the talents of the gifted family of Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa. It was in 1962 that Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa won a musical competition represented by every Asian country with his composition and performance of “Dance of the Phoenix.” We begin our program tonight with Nghĩa’s eldest daughter, Đoan Trang, playing that composition on the traditional six-hole bamboo flute. She will be accompanied by her brother Nghi, twin brothers Chiến and Hoà, which translated means war and peace, and her brother-in-law Bảo.