Hoài Niệm - COVID Music Collaboration between Vietnam and America

One of the most talented, inventive, and dedicated musicians/composers I know in Vietnam is nguyễn đức minh. He is part of Phù Sa Lab, which is an arts institution of the highest caliber that combines Vietnamese and ethnic minority traditional music with contemporary elements.

Minh plays a million different instruments (and makes his own too). He recently posted a short video of him playing the sáo (flute) and it was so beautiful I wanted to collaborate with him. I composed some cello parts to support his flute and slightly alter the context of what he intended.

Upon listening to it, he told me it brought to mind the words, Hoài Niệm, roughly translated as, nostalgia. I think it perfectly fits because though Vietnam is much further along in terms of returning to 'normal' since containing the virus, the USA has a long way to go. There is certainly a nostalgia here for the way things were and a definite sense that things will never really be the same as before.

I'm very honored to be able to work with Minh and I hope that this small piece of music brings you some sense of peace.