Around the Music Festival

American composer and educator Chou Wen-chung（Zhōu Wénzhōng） died in New York on the 25th. He was 96 years old. He was born in Yantai, Shandong, China. Studied at Chongqing University as an architect and went to the United States in 1946 during the civil war.

After moving to the United States, proceeded to the music way and studied with Nicolas Slonimsky at the New England Conservatory from 1946 to 1949. Later, he studied at Otto Luening at Columbia University. Acquired American citizenship in 1958. He taught at his alma mater since 1964 (~ 1991) and served as the head of the Department of Music.

In 1949, Chou met Edgard Varèse (1883-1965), who he was known as a pioneer of electronic music. After then, they built trust relationship for 16 years as a teacher and friend. After Varèse passed away, Chou lived in the former Varèse residence in Greenwich Village and was in charge of managing the works left by Varèse. He also completed the postscript of Noctnal, a posthumous work.

It has a unique style that incorporates Chinese poetry, paintings, calligraphy, and commerce, and his masterpieces are “The Willows are New”, “Metaphors”, “Cursive”, “Yu̎ Ko”, “Eternal Pine”, etc.

Photo：chouwenchung.org


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