Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

July 28, 1923

Death

:

October 25, 2019

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Chou Wen-Chung was a Chinese-American composer, musicologist, and educator who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on June 29, 1923, in Yantai, Shandong Province, China. Chou's father was a diplomat, and his mother was a musician. Chou's early exposure to music came from his mother, who taught him to play the piano and violin. He also learned to play the Chinese zither and flute. Chou's family moved to Shanghai when he was six years old, and he began studying Western classical music at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He studied composition with Xu Beihong, a prominent Chinese painter and composer. Chou's early compositions were influenced by Chinese folk music and traditional Chinese opera. In 1946, Chou received a scholarship to study at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He studied composition with Walter Piston and Aaron Copland. Chou's exposure to Western classical music had a profound impact on his compositions. He began to incorporate Western musical techniques into his works while still maintaining his Chinese musical heritage. After completing his studies in Boston, Chou moved to New York City, where he became involved in the avant-garde music scene. He worked with John Cage, Earle Brown, and Morton Feldman, among others. Chou's compositions from this period were experimental and often used aleatoric techniques. In the 1960s, Chou became interested in the music of the French composer Olivier Messiaen. He traveled to Paris to study with Messiaen and became his only Chinese student. Chou's compositions from this period were influenced by Messiaen's use of color and harmony. Chou's most famous work is "Landscapes," a series of orchestral works inspired by Chinese landscape paintings. The series consists of six works, each representing a different landscape. The first work, "Mountains," was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1974. The series was completed in 1982 and has been performed by orchestras around the world. Chou was also known for his work as a musicologist. He was a leading authority on the music of the Chinese philosopher Confucius and wrote extensively on the subject. He also wrote about the music of the Tang Dynasty and the Silk Road. Chou was a professor of music at Columbia University from 1964 until his retirement in 1991. He was a mentor to many young composers, including Tan Dun, who went on to win an Academy Award for his score for the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Chou received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the National Medal of Arts in 2002. He died on October 25, 2019, at the age of 96. In conclusion, Chou Wen-Chung was a pioneering composer who bridged the gap between Chinese and Western classical music. His compositions were influenced by his Chinese heritage and his exposure to Western classical music. He was also a respected musicologist and educator who made significant contributions to the field. Chou's legacy continues to inspire composers and musicians around the world.

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