15 minutes of music for the song 'Tuy Hoa's Love'

Musician Duong Duc and I have known each other for more than 40 years. In 1980, I met him at a wedding near my house. That day, I was the master of ceremonies, and he played the guitar for the singers to sing. I specialize in writing children's poems, and he is the one who has written the most poems for me, with more than 20 songs.

For poems written for adults, musician Duong Duc has composed two of my songs: "Love of Da Lat" (2002) and "Love of Tuy Hoa" (2024). He was very fond of both songs, playing and singing them himself with full emotion, his voice deep and passionate, singing from the bottom of his heart, sympathizing with the composer.

In April 2023, I was invited by the Vietnam Writers Association to attend the national children's literature writing camp in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen. Together with 22 other authors, I completed more than 50 children's poems, which were later published in the collection "The Sun in the Fruit" (Literature Publishing House, December 2024).

That day, just from Noi Bai airport to Tuy Hoa airport, a friend took me to Tuy Hoa beach to drink coffee and watch the sea, then visited Nghinh Phong tower - a work honored as one of the most beautiful towers in Southeast Asia. From here, we continued our journey to Nhan Mountain - a symbol of Cham Pa culture. Standing on Nhan Mountain, I looked at Tuy Hoa city filled with sunshine and wind, my emotions surged and I wrote the poem "On Nhan Mountain".

In December 2023, I brought the poetry collection "Mother and I" (Writers Association Publishing House) to musician Duong Duc at the headquarters of the Hung Yen Literature and Arts Association. He received the poetry collection with both hands, respectfully turning each page. When he reached the poem "On Nhan Mountain", he stopped, read it once, and excitedly said: "I will put this song to music". Hearing that, I encouraged him: "Put it to music right away!". Immediately, he took out his guitar, pressed the keys, sang, and wrote down the music, played the instrument, and then wrote down the notes and melody. In just 15 minutes, the song "Tuy Hoa Love" was born. He sang it for me to listen to, I applauded, and he happily clapped along. The two brothers were in harmony in the joy of composing.

At the National Music Festival held in Ninh Binh from December 17 to 20, 2024, musician Duong Duc brought the song "Tinh em Tuy Hoa" to compete with nearly 300 other works. He was both the author and the singer who performed the song successfully and won second prize.

There is no greater joy than when we have been together for more than 40 years, from friendship, brotherhood to the connection on the artistic path. "Tuy Hoa's Love" is not only a success in the creative career of musician Duong Duc but also a mark of the harmony between poetry and music - when music gives wings to poetry to fly and poetry lifts the music to sublimate.