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| The cover of Spring Essence: The Poetry of Ho Xuan Huong, which features a collection of poems edited and translated by John Balaban. |
Viet Nam News
HA NOI — Friends of Vietnam Heritage will have its monthly FVH Bookclub workshop today, March 7. The event will centre on the poetry of Ho Xuan Huong and song lyrics by composer Trinh Cong Son.
Ho Xuan Huong (1772-1822), whose name means “Spring Essence”, is one of the most important poets in Viet Nam’s history. Born and living in the time of feudalism, which disregarded the role of women, she became renowned for her poetic skills, especially for her subtly risque poems which used double-entendres and sexual innuendos to comment several social, religious and political issues. A concubine, she had the courage to mention topics which were taboo for women of that time.
Trinh Cong Son (1939-2001) was a famous Vietnamese musician, songwriter, painter and poet. Together with two other songwriters, Pham Duy and Van Cao, he formed the foundations of modern (non-classical) Vietnamese music and became an important figure of this genre. Alongside many love songs, Trinh Cong Son also composed several anti-war songs, which were written during and about the American War. Some of them were censored by the US-backed southern Republic of Viet Nam.
He was commemorated with a doodle on google.com on February 28 on the occasion of his 80th birthday anniversary.
The FVH Bookclub workshop will take place at Phu Specialty Tea & Coffee, No 19A Alley 12/2/5 Dang Thai Mai Street, Tay Ho District. — VNS
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| Songwritter, musician, painter and poet Trinh Cong Son. — Photo soha.vn |
OVietnam