The-An Nguyen: The Legend of the Bamboo Child (Thánh Dóng) - An Tran, Guitar

The Legend of the Bamboo Child (Thánh Dóng), composed by The-An Nguyen https://www.theannguyen.com/ About this composition: The Legend of the Bamboo Child (Thánh Dóng) was composed in the capital of the Czech Republic during Thế-An’s time of study with composer Štěpán Rak. Inspired by his teacher’s composition Remembering Prague, Thế-An wrote The Legend of the Bamboo Child to express his nostalgia by musically returning to his native land through Vietnamese legends and folklore. This work is his remembrance of childhood, motherland, and the war. It is an epic legend of a child leaping out of a crib (made of bamboo) and within three years becomes a giant. He goes on to fight invaders on horseback with a bamboo tree as his weapon. After his victory, he rides on his horse up the mountain to ascend into heaven. He is venerated as one of the Four Immortals, where the bamboo becomes a symbol of the subtlety and vigor of the common people. The Legend of the Bamboo Child is composed of five movements with a leitmotif for a guitar solo, which has a variety of timbre and extended techniques. This composition and its virtuosic technical demands are a significant contribution to the Vietnamese guitar repertoire. 0:00 Introduction 1:24 Childhood (Andante) 3:58 The Threat of War (Allegro) 5:32 The Rise of the Hero (Larghetto) 6:47 War and Victory (Presto) 9:26 The Ascension of the Bamboo Child (Largo) Performed and produced by An Tran: https://www.antran.org/ Videography: Tuan Tran Guitar: 2025 Stephan Connor Double-Top Strings: D'Addario XTC45FF XT Classical Dynacore Carbon Tuner: D'Addario PW-CT-12RC Micro Rechargeable Tuner Recorded with: Schoeps and Sonodore microphones, Prism Atlas preamp and audio interface, Logic Pro This video is partly supported by Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events ‪@ChicagoDCASE‬