The cover of the e-book Hồi ký âm nhạc Đặng Ngọc Long (Đặng Ngọc Long’s Musical Memoir), published by the Hồ Chí Minh General Publishing House. — Photo courtesy of the publishing house

Lương Hương

Renowned Vietnamese professor and musician Đặng Ngọc Long, now based in Germany, has released his musical memoir recording his emotions and techniques while composing.

The memoir, entitled Hồi ký âm nhạc Đặng Ngọc Long (Đặng Ngọc Long’s Musical Memoir), has been published as an e-book by the Hồ Chí Minh General Publishing House.

Having been living and working abroad for almost 40 years, the musician has remained connected to his Vietnamese roots and culture with his classic guitar pieces that blend traditional Vietnamese folk elements, which he himself has composed and arranged.

His works follow an Asian-European style and have been selected by the International Guitar Music Council in Berlin as compulsory pieces for many international competitions.

In the preface of his memoir, the musical professor writes: "The pieces composed for the classical guitar are the musical assets of my life. I have created them my entire life."

"There were many sleepless nights, and there were months of joy and many years of suffering, so that every note became a living cell on my body, running along with the years, and then one day when I return to the dust, those cells still flow and still pour out... I dream of that! That's why I want to publish the musical memoir, which records the emotions and techniques used in composing 10 pieces selected as compulsory pieces for the international guitar competition in Berlin. This is to enable professional artists to study them carefully before performing, and for the audience to understand the author's intentions and inspirations when listening to these pieces."

Explaining why the memoir is published as an e-book, he said: "Releasing e-books is suitable for young readers and the current trend of reading, so I hope that it will attract more readers."

Long has composed and arranged numerous pieces for the guitar, including Núi Rừng Tây Nguyên (Mountains and Forests of the Central Highlands), Hồi Tưởng (Reminiscence), Prelude No. 1, Mienman, Meo, Bèo Dạt Mây Trôi (Water-Fern and Wandering Clouds – a traditional folk song from Bắc Ninh Province), Fantasie in G Dur, Kreislauf, along with many other duets and quartets.

In particular, some of his works such as Prelude No. 1, Bèo Dạt Mây Trôi, Hồi tưởng, Ru Con (Lullaby), Mưa (Rain), and Tổ khúc Kiều (Kiều Suite – based on the epic poem The Tale of Kiều by the Vietnamese celebrated poet Nguyễn Du) – have been selected as compulsory pieces for the international guitar competitions in Berlin.

The musician was the first Vietnamese person to win the International Guitar Prize in 1987, which he considers a turning point in his career. He earned his Master's degree from the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin from 1985 to 1993. Since 2004, he has been the principal of the Berlin-Gesundbrunnen School of Music in Germany. He has also served as the chairman of the artistic council for the International Guitar Competition in Berlin since 2006.

Aside from his musical achievements, Long is also an accomplished actor starring in many films. — VNS