Ba Dinh Square flag raising ceremony on vinyl

Thanh Am Ha Noi (Melodies of Hanoi) vinyl record includes classic songs about Hanoi, the capital's air defense alert, the tinkling of the streetcar, and above all, the flag-raising ceremony at 6 .a.m in Ba Dinh Square, with which previous generations of Hanoians have long identified.

The sacred flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square was recorded by sound engineers for the first time and conveyed with vividness and authenticity on a record entitled Thanh Am Ha Noi (Melodies of Hanoi).

This is a special product released by Hanoi Radio and Television on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the capital and the 70th anniversary of the broadcaster.

The vinyl record contains the most famous songs of Hanoi and familiar sounds of Hanoi. Photo: Nguyen Tuyen/The Hanoi Times

The work was completed in six months. Side A includes four famous songs of Hanoi: Marching to Hanoi (composed by Van Cao), Hanoi People (Nguyen Dinh Thi), Childhood Memories (Nguyen Huu Tuan), Hanoi's Faith and Hope (Phan Nhan). The song Hanoi People is performed by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Honna Tetsuji.

On Side B, there are the capital's air defense alarms that sounded during the 12 days and nights Hanoi battled the American Air Force in 1972, the clanging of trams, Hanoi Radio's identity music in 1979 and 2024, and especially the 6 a.m. flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square that generations of Hanoians have identified with.

Sound engineer Nguyen Duy Nghia - who was directly involved in the recording and mastering - said it was a new idea because no one had done it before.

"The most challenging aspect was recording on location in a high-security area. In addition, the square is very large, so it's not easy to recreate the solemn and sacred atmosphere of the flag-raising ceremony with sound," he said.

Nghia set up as many as 36 microphones around Ba Dinh Square and needed 16 technicians to operate them.

"We have recreated the atmosphere of the flag-raising ceremony, from the sound of the honor guard marching to the sound of the flag waving to the solemn and sacred mood at the moment the flag is saluted," he said.

Sound engineer Duy Nghia at Ba Dinh Square. Photo: Nguyen Tuyen/The Hanoi Times

"It was the best version of the national anthem I had ever heard, I tried to capture the solemn atmosphere in the record," said Nghia.

According to Nguyen Kim Khiem, General Director of Hanoi Radio and Television, the record captures the sounds that have become part of Hanoi's memory over the past 70 years.

Khiem said the disc was recorded with the highest possible artistic quality.

"Through this product, we hope to reminisce with Hanoi lovers and preserve the sounds of Hanoi for a longer time, in a very Hanoi way," he said.

In terms of distribution, vinyl records are highly sought after items by audiophiles. The first music of the Vietnamese revolutionary music scene was recorded on vinyl. That's why Hanoi Radio and Television decided to produce the Melodies of Hanoi record.

"At present, when digital music and media are on the rise, the vinyl record still holds a rather solemn position in the hearts of music lovers," he said.