(VOVworld) – Musician Thuan Yen has long been familiar to Vietnamese music lovers. His songs are very distinctive in contemporary music. He is considered a jewel in the crown of Vietnamese revolutionary music.

Thuan Yen, formerly called Doan Huu Cong, was born in 1932 in Quang Nam province. He joined the national resistance in 1949 as an art officer of Inter-zone 5. Yen then studied songwriting at the Vietnam Music School now the Vietnam National Academy of Music. During the resistance war against US imperialists, he wrote songs encouraging young people to go to the front - songs like “We tie our backpacks” and “Green camouflage leaves”. And with a guitar, Yen accompanied soldiers to many battlefields of which Binh Tri Thien was the worst. Most of Yen’s songs were about President Ho Chi Minh. Those 26 songs touched generations of Vietnamese. Two of his songs - “Uncle Ho – an immense love” and “The central region misses Uncle Ho” won State award in 2001. Do Hong Quan, President of the Vietnam Musicians’ Association, said: “Thuan Yen was born in the central region, so his melodies are imprinted with that region’s folk music. He was one of the best  musicians in Vietnam. Yen was a soldier and a professional art officer. He was much respected by his colleagues and other musicians.”

During his time at the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) as head of the Music-Information-Entertainment Channel, Yen traveled a lot and wrote a number of songs. The best-known of these are “To you at the end of the Red River”, “Wordless love” and “To the central region”. His colleague, musician Cat Van, says the time Yen spent at VOV gave him an ardent love for the homeland. Although Yen was very busy with his managerial work, he never forgot to nurture young musicians, according to Van: “Thuan Yen was a dedicated and talented musician. He was an outstanding symbol of Vietnam’s revolutionary music. He was open-minded and respected by everyone. He was kindhearted and he had a gentle smile.”

Yen was always ready to help younger musicians. People’s artist Thu Hien says she will never forget him. He taught her the folk melodies of Inter-zone 5. Hien was proud to be the first singer to be taught by Yen to sing the music of the central region: “Thuan Yen wrote songs with the passion and love of a Vietnamese. He was like a father, a captain, a soldier, and a close friend. He has always had my respect.”

Yen was also well-known for a number of symphonies including the “Volunteer” Sonata and the symphony “love of the central region”. He always tried to renew himself and adapt to contemporary musical trends. Singer Trong Tan said: “Thuan Yen was a revered songwriter who wrote in multiple genres: revolutionary, folk and pop. He was a productive and dedicated songwriter, a shining example for others to follow.”