VietNamNet Bridge – A music work by late songwriter Trinh Cong Son is said to be similar to an American work.

Trinh Cong Son and his sister Trinh Vinh Trinh.

The doubt was raised shortly after activities to commemorate the 10th dead anniversary of the talented songwriter.

The information was posted on the Internet by a blogger and it has become a hot topic on online forums in recent days. Many fans were discontent when the famous songwriter was suspected to have copied the music of an American musician.

However, it is easy to see the similarity between the melody of Trinh Cong Son’s “Con Mat Con Lai” (Remaining Eye), written in 1992 and performed by “Nam Dong Ke” group, and Leroy Anderson’s “The Syncopated Clock”, which was written in 1945 and mixed in 1983 by Gontiti.

However, most people don’t believe that the famous Vietnamese songwriter copied music of others and said that it is a coincidence.

“Composer Trinh Cong Son had no reason to copy music of others. If “Con Mat Con Lai” is rejected, Trinh Cong Son is still Trinh Cong Son,” a reader commented.

Trinh Cong Son’s younger sister Trinh Vinh Trinh said that the doubt is offensive to her brother.

Songwriter Hoai Sa, who was the director of many Trinh Cong Son’s music shows, said that the comparison is ungrounded and untruthful.

“This is country music. All songs belonging this genre are the same in the rhythm, catanhet, speed and harmony… These are the standards for music works of this genre,” Hoai Sa said.

He said he could find out around 50 songs with similar instrument as Leroy Anderson” “The syncopated Clock”.

Musician Tran Manh Tuan was angry about the information. He said the one who raised the doubt is not a musical expert. He said “The Syncopated Clock” and “Con Mat Con Lai” are totally different. They are only similar in the first three notes.

“Music is inheritance. Based on Trinh Cong Son’s conduct and music, it is unable to say that Trinh copied music of others. It is sad and ridiculous for those who lack of knowledge to have doubt with a musician like Trinh Cong Son,” Tuan said.

Senior singer Anh Tuan strongly opposed the information. She said “Con Mat Con Lai” was composed based on a poem by Bui Giang, who wrote the poem when his glasses fell to the ground. From this detail, Trinh Cong Son wrote the melody of “Con Mat Con Lai”.

She said that the unintentional similarity of several musical notes in the two works is unintentional similarity between big talents.

“There are a lot of similarities in this world that we can’t explain. I confirm that Mr. Son didn’t copy music of others. It is offensive to him and thousands of his fans,” Anh Tuyet said.

Trinh Cong Son (28/2/1939 - 1/4/2001) is one of great songwriters of Vietnam’s modern music. He is also a poet and a painter. He wrote over 500 songs.

The musician won many music awards at home and abroad, including the World Peace Music Award 2004.

A road in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue was recently named after the late composer.

PV