Lovers of Vietnamese poems and music have gathered together to participate in a unique and intimate two-hour workshop held in one of Melbourne’s public libraries, in Richmond, on Saturday.

The workshop, now in its second year, was led by musician Vien Trinh who showed participants how poems could be transformed into song lyrics using demonstrations from his own work.

Participants were encouraged to bring along their own poems and songs for discussion.

The event, organised by Richmond library co-ordinator La Khai, guest-starred singers Dinh Hung, My Linh and Thanh Lan.

Vien Trinh told TiVi Tuan-san he believed the workshop was a success, “I think people did enjoy the talk and the feedback from them is sometimes completely opposite to what I think.

“That’s the idea of the workshop. Completely opposite opinions from the audience will give you more insight into what you’re doing and to me, it’s only good.

“You’ve got a chance to touch a topic that you never knew existed in other people’s minds and hearts,” he said.

Mr Trinh, who has written 20 songs about life and love, told the audience one of the best ways to write a song is to use the mobile phone.

“We’re very busy these day so our minds are very occupied with many things; family, work, the environment, society and politics. You’ve got so many ways to entertain yourself; [the] television and the internet…

“You tend to forget things easily and I found a way to help my memory by using the mobile phone. Because the mobile phone, there’s a record button, you record your voice.”

Mr Trinh has not published any of his songs yet, but has collaborated with other Vietnamese songwriters and musicians in two CDs titled Gom Nang 1 and Gom Nang 2 (“Gathering Sunlight 1&2”), produced by the Australian-Vietnamese Arts Incorporation.

 

– TiVi Tuan-san