Lưu Hữu Phước facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lưu Hữu Phước
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Huỳnh Minh Siêng, Long Hưng, Anh Lưu, Hồng Chí |
| Born | 12 September 1921 Ô Môn, Cần Thơ, Indochina |
| Died | June 8, 1989 (aged 67) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
| Genres | Pre-1945 new Vietnamese music, Vietnamese Red music, Children music, Musical theatrical plays |
| Years active | 1939-1989 |
| Associated acts | Playwright |
Lưu Hữu Phước (born September 12, 1921, in Cần Thơ, Vietnam – died June 8, 1989, in Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam) was a very important Vietnamese composer. He also served in the government as a member of the National Assembly. He led the Committee of Culture and Education.
He was part of a famous trio of composers called Hoàng–Mai–Lưu. The other members were Mai Văn Bộ and Huỳnh Văn Tiểng. They sometimes used the shared name Huỳnh Minh Siêng.
Lưu Hữu Phước wrote two important songs that became national anthems for South Vietnam. One was Giải phóng miền Nam (Liberate the South). This was used by the Provisional Revolutionary Government. The other was Tiếng gọi thanh niên (March of the Youths). Its words were later changed to Tiếng gọi công dân (March of the Citizens). This version was used as an anthem by the State of Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam.
Early Life and Music
Lưu Hữu Phước was born on September 12, 1921, in Ô Môn, which is now part of Cần Thơ city. He loved music from a young age. He learned to play several instruments. These included the Đàn nguyệt, mandolin, and guitar.
Around 1935, Lưu Hữu Phước went to Petrus Ký high school in Saigon. This school is now called Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted. There, he met Mai Văn Bộ and Huỳnh Văn Tiểng. They became close friends. They were known as "the trio of Hoàng–Mai–Lưu." They worked together on many music projects.
They also started a "Scholar Club" for Vietnamese students who loved their country. In 1939, Lưu Hữu Phước wrote the music for La Marche des Étudiants. Mai Văn Bộ wrote the French words. This song quickly became the anthem for their club. It was later known as Tiếng gọi thanh niên (Call of the Youths).
After high school, Lưu Hữu Phước moved to Hanoi. He studied at the Medicine School of Indochina University from 1940 to 1944. He was very active in student groups that supported Vietnam. He also connected with the Viet Minh movement. During this time, he wrote many famous patriotic songs. These included Bạch Đằng Giang (Bạch Đằng River) and Ải Chi Lăng (Gate of Chi Lăng). He also wrote Hát giang trường hận (Long Hatred on River Hát). This song was later changed to Hồn tử sĩ (Soul of the Martyred Soldier). Another song was Hội nghị Diên Hồng (Diên Hồng assembly).
In 1943, his song La Marche des Étudiants was performed at the Hùng Kings' Festival. It quickly became very popular. Lưu Hữu Phước also wrote a play called Tục luỵ (Suffering). It was performed on March 21, 1943, at the Hanoi Grand Theatre.
In 1944, the Viet Minh asked Lưu Hữu Phước to help. He encouraged Vietnamese students to join the patriotic movement. He worked with his friends Huỳnh Văn Tiểng, Mai Văn Bộ, and Đặng Ngọc Tốt. Together, they wrote songs like Xếp bút nghiên (Put away the penmanship) and Mau về Nam (Quickly go to the South). They also wrote Gieo ánh sáng (Sowing the Light).
After 1945: A Life of Service
After the August Revolution in 1945, Lưu Hữu Phước continued to work for the new government. He met President Ho Chi Minh at the first National Assembly in 1946.
When the French returned to southern Vietnam, Lưu Hữu Phước helped with public information. He became the Director of the Publishing House of the South. In May 1946, he went back to Hanoi. He helped set up the Central Music Academy in September.
When the First Indochina War began in December 1946, Lưu Hữu Phước and other artists moved with the government to Việt Bắc. He was asked to create a group called "Vanguard Propaganda Young Pioneer." This group later became the Resistant Young Pioneer's Musical Theatre. They performed many of his plays. In 1950, Lưu Hữu Phước also became the Director of the Art School for Children.
During this time, he composed many well-known songs. Some of these were Ca ngợi Hồ Chủ tịch (Song for Praising President Ho Chi Minh) and Khúc khải hoàn (Triumph Song). He also wrote Thiếu nhi thế giới liên hoan (International Children Festival).
The Vietnam War (1955–1975) started after the French left. From 1954 to 1964, Lưu Hữu Phước worked in North Vietnam. He led the Music and Dancing Research Group. He also became the Director of the Department of Music and Dancing. He helped research Vietnamese folk songs, especially quan họ. He played a key role in starting important music and art schools. These included the Vietnam Music School (now Vietnam National Academy of Music) and the Dancing School.
In February 1965, Lưu Hữu Phước traveled to South Vietnam. He became the Chairman of the Arts and Literature Association of the National Liberation Front. When the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam was formed in 1969, he became the Minister of Culture and Information.
He wrote several songs during this period. These included Dưới cờ Đảng vẻ vang (Under the Party Flag) and Bài hát Giải phóng quân (Song of the Liberation Army). He also wrote Tình Bác sáng đời ta (Uncle Ho's love enlightens our life). A very important song was Giải phóng miền Nam (Liberate the South). He wrote this with his friends Mai Văn Bộ and Huỳnh Văn Tiểng. It became the national anthem for the communist-led Republic of South Vietnam. His song Tiến về Sài Gòn (March on Saigon) was later used in the 2005 film Giải phóng Sài Gòn (Liberate Saigon).
The war ended in 1975. In 1978, Lưu Hữu Phước became the Director of the Music Research Institute. He was also named a Professor. He held many important positions in music and culture. He was the Chairman of the National Music Council. He was also a member of the International Music Council.
Lưu Hữu Phước passed away on June 8, 1989, in Ho Chi Minh City.
Famous Works
- Tiếng Gọi Thanh Niên (A Call to Youth), 1939
- Bạch Đằng Giang (Bạch Đằng River)
- Ải Chi Lăng (Gate of Chi Lăng)
- Tục luỵ (Suffering)
- Hát Giang trường hận (Long Hatred on River Hát), 1942–1943
- Xếp bút nghiên (Put away the penmanship), 1944
- Mau về Nam (Quickly go to the South), 1944
- Gieo ánh sáng (Sowing the Light), 1944
- Hội nghị Diên Hồng (Diên Hồng assembly)
- Khúc khải hoàn (Triumph Song), 1945
- Hồn tử sĩ (Soul of the Martyred Soldier), 1946
- Ca ngợi Hồ chủ tịch (Song for Praising President Ho Chi Minh), 1947
- Dưới cờ Đảng vẻ vang (Under the Party Flag)
- Bài hát Giải phóng quân (Song of the Liberation Army)
- Tình Bác sáng đời ta (Uncle Ho's love enlightens our life)
- Hành khúc giải phóng (Liberation march)
- Xuống đường (To the street)
- Giải phóng miền Nam (Liberate the South), 1961
- Tiến về Sài Gòn (March on Saigon), 1966
- Opera – Bông Sen (Lotus), 1968
Honor
A park in Cần Thơ is named after him. It is called Lưu Hữu Phước Park (Công viên Lưu Hữu Phước). This was built to honor his contributions.
