Musical pioneer: Composer To Vu. — File Photo

HCM CITY (VNS) — Noted composer To Vu passed away on Tuesday in his home in HCM City's District 9. He was 91.

To Vu, who was born as Hoang Phu in the northern province of Bac Giang, was among the talented musicians who made substantial contributions to Viet Nam's modern music.

At the age of 15 he joined the Dong Vong (Echo) group with some friends, who composed songs praising the country and the heroism of people as well as romantic love songs.

During the resistance war against the French, he worked actively to found the Viet Nam Composers Association. He was among the pioneers of today's National Academy of Music, where he worked as a lecturer between 1959 and 1967.

After the liberation of south Viet Nam in 1975, he held the post of Deputy Rector of the Viet Nam Music Research Institute, and was in charge of the institute's HCM City branch office.

To Vu has been popular with beautiful songs like Ta Tu (Good Bye) and Anh Den Tham Em Mot Chieu Mua (A Visit in Rainy Afternoon). He has also composed music for tuong (classical drama), cheo (traditional opera), and cai luong (reformed opera). He also made music for puppetry and cinema.

He published a research book titled Am Nhac Viet Nam - Truyen Thong va Hien Dai (Vietnamese Music - Tradition and Modernity), in 2002, which gathers various research material on folk music, cai luong, traditional instruments, central highlands' gongs and lithophone [stone instrument] .

His funeral was organised yesterday in HCM City, while a commemorating ceremony will be held at his house in Ha Noi tomorrow and Saturday. — VNS