In a small painting gallery on Hang Bong Street, an old man with a long salt-and-pepper beard puts down his paint brush to play a few songs on the piano.

Painter Vu Dan Tan plays his old piano to relax from painting.

At 62, painter Vu Dan Tan has had a life-long passion for music. While artwork may be how he earns his living, this passion has materialised into one of the city’s most impressive vinyl record collections: with 10 antique record players and nearly 1,000 records.

“I studied how to paint with artist Manh Quynh, starting when I was six,” recalls Tan. “I began to learn the piano from my older cousin Le Lien; she taught me when I was 15. At that time, the piano was seen as a girl’s hobby, and boys didn’t typically learn how to play it.”

His love of music, however, was sparked at around the same time he started painting. His father gave him his first record player, with two songs in French so he could learn the language.

“Since then, I have really grown to love these old players,” recounts Tan. “Anytime I see the needle flying over the record, and sounding out classical sounds and sweet melodies, I feel refreshed.”

Even just talking about these antique players and vinyl records seems to excite Tan. He grew increasingly ecstatic, as he recalled the only place that used to sell vinyl records on Trang Tien Street, which is now the foreign book shop.

The players and records came from overseas, brought by people returning from Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland, Tan says. A Czech record at the time would cost around VND7, while a cheaper Russian record was VND3.5. That was quite expensive, considering an average monthly salary for a State employee was just VND60.

“When Southern Viet Nam was liberated, many people brought these products to Ha Noi from Sai Gon,” he says.

Vu Dan Tan puts on an old vinyl record.

“Each player has its own aesthetic features,” he explains. “For example, a Russian one looks as strong as a Minsk motorbike, while a Japanese one looks graceful and a Hong Kong player looks so delicate.”

To ensure he can continue to enjoy these players, and that they don’t become something just nice to look at, Tan owns around 100 iron magnetic needles, and he jokes: “I can use them until the end of my lifetime.”

The old painter’s collection of vinyl records include records of 33, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute. The collection includes mostly classical music by famous composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.

“Listening to this classical music on vinyl played on old players helps bring listeners back to older days,” says a dreamy Tan. “I think that modern CD players just don’t compare, in terms of their sound.”

While this artist loves his records, he says that listening to classical music live is definitely the best option. He highly recommends the Opera House, as he describes the chill that runs down his spine listening to live music. Unfortunately, heading to the opera daily is not always an option, so records present a happy alternative.

Much like writing in a diary, Tan keeps track of his collection by carefully signing his name and the date on the records’ paper cover. While his collection is well known and respected, he remains relatively modest about his work.

“It’s nothing compared to young collectors now,” says Tan. “They have many better collections with unique players and records. One such collector, painter Quach Dong Phuong, owns an old amplifier made by the Western Electric company in 1956.”

Keeping up any collection is more than just finding new treasures and Tan pays special attention to keep his own in top shape.

“Older records made of carbon can be easily broken, while other vinyl records must be protected from dust and from the heat,” he says.

Although he spends much of his time preserving them he’s still happy to share the records with others. While the collection is highly valuable, for him sharing the joy of music on vinyl is a priceless joy.

“There are classics that surpass time and can become immortal: classical music, ancient players and vinyl records.”

(Source: VNS)