Khiem Nguyen-Duy: Song for Soul - An Tran, Guitar

Khiem Nguyen-Duy: Song for Soul – World Premiere Recording

About this composition:

Song for Soul is a deeply moving journey through the stages of life, exploring the evolution of the soul from innocence to wisdom, joy to turmoil, and ultimately, to transcendence. Composed by Khiem Nguyen in collaboration with and dedicated to An Tran, this seven-chapter piece captures the essence of the soul's life story:

I. Intro: brillante – Positivity and boundless potential.
II. Youth: grazioso – Hope, beauty, and calmness of childhood.
III. Maturity: expressivo – Self-reflection and deeper emotions.
IV. Sweeping Storm: feroce – Struggles and turmoil of life.
V. Wonder and Turmoil: cadenza – Virtuosic questioning and drama.
VI. Stream of Life: sostenuto – A reflective, steady flow of life.
VII. Reflection: solenemente – A hopeful and mature conclusion.

About Khiem Nguyen-Duy:

Khiem is a Vietnamese composer based in Denmark, known for creating evocative musical works that blend technical sophistication with deep emotional resonance. Drawing inspiration from life’s profound moments and personal experiences, Khiem’s compositions often explore themes of self-reflection, growth, love, challenges, and the beauty of human resilience. Rooted in classical traditions yet imbued with contemporary expressiveness, his music seeks to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level, offering moments of solace, wonder, and hope. Khiem's works have been praised and performed by countless music lovers worldwide, respected by his fellow composers, and recorded or featured in concert programs by renowned guitarists around the globe.

Personal Note:

I am deeply thankful to Khiem Nguyen for his time, effort, and artistry, and for the opportunity to collaborate on this incredible piece. This recording marks the world premiere of Song for Soul.

During the Fall of 2024, I had the chance to visit the "Belonging" exhibition at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture. This breathtaking exhibition featured artworks by Lithuanian artists in Chicago from the 1900s to today, showcasing the voices and experiences of immigrants. As an immigrant myself, I found the exhibition profoundly moving—it spoke directly to my soul.

The powerful connection between the themes of the exhibition and the story of Song for Soul inspired the idea of recording this video amidst the museum's artwork. I’m immensely grateful to Sigita Balzekas and the entire team at the Balzekas Museum for allowing us to record in this space, and to the featured artists for their compelling creations.

The following artworks are featured in this video:
Perkūnas (God of Thunder) by Alexandra V. Eiva
Chicago by Anthony Cooper/Antanas Skupas
Society's Man, Fifty Posters by Algimantas Kezys
The Ploughman by Mikas Šileikis
Spring Time/Daughters of the Sun by Adolfas Valeška
Tragedy at the Baltic Sea by Ada Korsakaitė Sutkus
Vietnamese Child #1 by Rudolf Baranik
Faceted Landscape and Untitled by Vytautas Osvaldas Virkau
Apple Orchard in Spring, Belmont Harbor and Indiana Dunes from the Top of Mt. Jackson by Mikas Šileikis
Among other artworks featured in the gallery shots.

You can see these artworks in person at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL, 60629, USA. https://balzekasmuseum.org/

Performed by An Tran: https://www.antran.org/
Videography: Lucina Sosa
Guitar by Stephan Connor
Strings: D'Addario EJ45FF
This video is partly supported by Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events ‪@ChicagoDCASE‬