To the world, Nguyen Thien Dao was a famous composer, and to Vietnam, he was a talented son. Nguyen Thien Dao was awarded the order “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” or Order of Arts and Letters by the French government, along with many recognitions from the Vietnamese government.
Nguyen Thien Dao was born in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 1940. He arrived in France in 1953 to study medicine. But his love for music led him to apply and get accepted by the Paris Academy for National Conservatory of Music (Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris) in 1963. Under the instruction of Olivier Messiaen, one of the major composers of the 20th century, Nguyen Thien Dao received the 1st prize for composition at the academy.
Nguyen Thien Dao is remembered as a composer of two different music styles: western and eastern. The composer combined these two styles to create world-famous compositions. A Vietnamese lullaby, the sound of flute, and waves on the river in his hometown. All of these simple sounds nurtured the soul of the great music talent. Thus, even when he had become famous worldwide, Nguyen Thien Dao still had a great love for Vietnam, his fatherland. This is expressed in his abundant legacy of over 80 compositions, most of which are inspired from Vietnam’s history, culture, and people.
