Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1893

Death

:

1950

 

Hua Yan-jun, also known as Abing, was a Chinese composer and musician born on August 17, 1893, in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China. He was the youngest of five children and grew up in a poor family. His father was a boatman, and his mother was a weaver. Hua Yan-jun's interest in music began at a young age when he started playing the erhu, a two-stringed Chinese instrument. Despite his family's financial struggles, Hua Yan-jun's parents recognized his musical talent and encouraged him to pursue his passion. At the age of 12, he left home to study music in Shanghai. He studied under several renowned musicians, including Liu Tian-hua, who was known for his mastery of the erhu. Hua Yan-jun's talent as a musician quickly became apparent, and he began performing in public at the age of 15. He became known for his unique style of playing the erhu, which incorporated elements of traditional Chinese music as well as Western classical music. In 1918, Hua Yan-jun moved to Beijing, where he continued to perform and compose music. He became a popular musician in the city and was often invited to perform at various events and gatherings. He also began to teach music, passing on his knowledge and skills to the next generation of musicians. Hua Yan-jun's most famous composition is "Erquan Yingyue," also known as "The Moon Reflected on Erquan." The piece was inspired by a poem written by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai and is considered one of the most beautiful pieces of music in Chinese classical music. The piece is often played on the erhu and has been performed by many musicians around the world. In addition to "Erquan Yingyue," Hua Yan-jun composed many other pieces of music, including "Yi Zhen," "Hua Yan-jun Qu," and "Xiao Hua Gu." His music was known for its emotional depth and its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing. Despite his success as a musician and composer, Hua Yan-jun's life was not without its struggles. He suffered from alcoholism and was often in poor health. He also experienced personal tragedies, including the death of his wife and two of his children. Hua Yan-jun died on December 8, 1950, at the age of 57. His legacy as a musician and composer lives on, and his music continues to be celebrated and performed around the world. In 1980, the Chinese government established the Abing Music Research Institute to honor his contributions to Chinese classical music.

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