An Evening of Poetry and Music – Traces of Previous Lives and Love Songs for the Homeland, Part 22 of a Multi-part Series

We again feature the musician, arranger, composer, and instrument maker Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa playing the Japanese folk song “Sakura.” At one point in the selection, he will play the “đàn T’rưng” (bamboo xylophone) and a one-handed flute simultaneously. The Nguyễn family will now conclude with “Pongkle Bird.” This is a song symbolic of the many birds in Vietnamese culture and literature. The shrill, piercing sound of the piccolo flute of the Ra Đê [people] will be played by (Nguyễn Đình) Nghĩa.

Ladies and gentlemen, the gifted family of Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa. Twin brothers of Hoà and Chiến. (Nguyễn Đình Hòa, Nguyễn Đình Chiến.) Nghi. (Nguyễn Đình Nghi.) Bảo. Nam Phương. Đoan Trang. Diệu Tân. And Nghĩa. (And Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa.) (You are a genius! Really genius!) Yes, Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa truly deserves the title “Vietnamese Magical Flutist.” We are proud of this [family]. You see, the Vietnamese artists are very talented. Our people are very talented, just lacking a little money. If Nguyễn Đình Nghĩa has some more means, I am sure with this orchestra, he can go and perform everywhere to entertain and let people understand more about the Vietnamese culture. (No problem. If next time you want to go somewhere, we’ll support you financially. Is that alright?)