Memories and Oceans:An Intimate Sonic Relationship

The Vietnamese term trùng dương has appeared in poetry since at least the nineteenth century to metaphorically describe an unfathomable distance. Meaning “endless ocean” or “endless waves,” the term depicts movement caused by steady waves passing along the surface of the water. Adopted in mid-twentieth century popular songs in the Republic of Vietnam, it took on new meaning following the exodus of Vietnamese peoples via water routes after 1975. The Pacific Ocean then became a potent representation of departure and a literal connection to homeland. This article examines the transpacific sonic relationship between memory and the ocean as diasporic musicians not only reflected on their experiences but also re-presented them to the homeland through online media platforms. I analyze several songs by composers Phạm Duy and Phạm Đình Chương and how these songs exemplify what might be considered musical engagement with the “oblivion” of the ocean of memory, as theorized by Marc Augé (2004). These musicians face down the endless expanse of memory by negotiating how to narrate their histories and maintain memory for future generations both in diaspora and in Vietnam.