She Came Back from the War is based on a Vietnamese poem, “Two Generations of Mothers,” written by my mother, Trầm Hương, in 1993. The original poem recounts the true story of a Vietnamese woman who lost her leg from the Vietnam–American War. Thus, she was unable to marry after the war had ended. Her mother was the only person who took care of her.
Undeterred by her physical disability and societal prejudices against single mothers in Vietnam at the time, the young woman had a deep desire to become a mother herself. Through determination and with the support of her loving mother, she overcame much adversity to give birth to a child. Together, two generations of mothers shared one journey of raising a new life, and they did it with love, resilience, and hope for a brighter future.
I dedicate this epical song to all mothers who, like the characters in the story, nurture this world with their unconditional love and kindness.
This piece has not yet premiered. The use of the Cantamus AI voice and MIDI realization in this version is intended solely for demonstration purposes. While these tools provide a general idea of the composition, they cannot replace the expressiveness and authenticity that live performers bring to a musical piece. If you are interested in performing this work or have any inquiries regarding the composition, please reach out to me directly at [email protected].
Solo Soprano, 1 Flute, 1 Bassoon, 1 Trumpet in B-flat, 1 Timpani, 1 Glockenspiel, 1 Harp, 6 Violins I, 5 Violins II, 4 Violas, 4 Cellos, and 2 Contrabasses