Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1941

 

Chu Wanghua was a Chinese composer who was born on December 25, 1929, in Shanghai, China. He was the youngest of six children in his family. His father was a businessman, and his mother was a housewife. Chu Wanghua showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano at the age of six. Chu Wanghua's family moved to Hong Kong in 1941 to escape the Japanese invasion of China. In Hong Kong, Chu Wanghua continued his music studies and began composing his own music. He studied composition with the renowned composer, Xiao Youmei, and piano with the pianist, Pan Yuliang. In 1950, Chu Wanghua moved to the United States to study music at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He studied composition with Bernard Rogers and Howard Hanson and piano with Cecile Genhart. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1954 and his Master of Music degree in 1955. After completing his studies, Chu Wanghua returned to Hong Kong and began teaching at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He also became the conductor of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, which he helped to found in 1957. He remained the conductor of the orchestra until 1967. Chu Wanghua's music is characterized by its use of Chinese folk melodies and Western classical forms. He was particularly interested in the use of Chinese instruments in Western orchestral music. His compositions include symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and music for Chinese instruments. One of Chu Wanghua's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1958. The symphony is in three movements and is scored for a Western orchestra and Chinese instruments. The first movement is based on a Chinese folk melody, the second movement is a scherzo, and the third movement is a rondo. Another notable work by Chu Wanghua is his Concerto for Erhu and Orchestra, which he composed in 1963. The erhu is a Chinese stringed instrument that is similar to a violin. The concerto is in three movements and is scored for an erhu soloist and a Western orchestra. The first movement is based on a Chinese folk melody, the second movement is a slow and lyrical adagio, and the third movement is a lively and rhythmic finale. Chu Wanghua's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music, including the Order of the British Empire in 1985 and the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2000. Chu Wanghua continued to compose music until his death on August 17, 2018, at the age of 88. His legacy as a composer and educator continues to inspire musicians and audiences around the world.

More....