Qu Xixian facts for kids

Qu Xixian (born September 23, 1919 – died March 19, 2008) was a famous Chinese composer. She was born in Shanghai and loved music from a young age. Qu Xixian graduated from the Shanghai National Conservatory of Music in 1948. She studied both composition (how to write music) and piano.

Her career was long and exciting, covering many important times in Chinese history. She worked with the Central Philharmonic Society. She also held important leadership roles in the Chinese Musicians' Association. Her special choral music was performed in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai in 1997, 1999, and 2000.

Early Life and Learning

Qu Xixian was born in Shanghai on September 23, 1919. Her parents were Qu Baowen and Zhu Pingyu. She loved music very much as a child. She started her music lessons when she was young.

In 1939, Xixian studied with a German-Jewish composer named Fraenkel. He was living in Shanghai at the time. Fraenkel greatly influenced Xixian and other famous Chinese composers. Some of these included Ding Shande and Sang Tong.

From 1940 to 1948, Xixian studied at the Shanghai National Conservatory. She learned piano and composition there. One of her teachers was Tan Xiaolin. He had studied with a famous composer named Paul Hindemith. After graduating in 1948, Xixian started teaching. She taught harmony and music history at the Beijing Art Institute. This school is now called the Beijing Opera Arts College.

Her Music Career

Xixian began writing music professionally in 1949. She wrote original music for the Central Song and Dance Ensemble. This group later became the Central National Music Ensemble. She worked there from 1949 to 1954. After that, she composed for the Central Philharmonic Society.

Many of Xixian's musical pieces are for voices. She was especially interested in writing for choirs. She used different kinds of voices in new ways. This made her music unique and creative. She became well-known for her beautiful choral versions of Chinese folk songs.

For example, her most famous piece is "Pastoral" (Mu Ge). It is a four-part song for voices. It is based on a folk song from Inner Mongolia called "Throwing Sticks." In this piece, Xixian mixed Western music styles with traditional Chinese sounds.

Xixian held concerts of her choral works in 1987, 1999, and 2000. These concerts were in Beijing and Shanghai. In 2003, she published a book called Qu Xixian Chorus Selections. It included 53 pieces. Some were her arrangements of "Pastoral" and "Usuli Bacarole." Others were her own songs like "Flying Petals" and "Call Me By My Pet Name." Many of her works are still performed today. In 1995, Xixian also released a CD and cassette. It was called Flying Petals and had 16 choral works.

Important Works

Choral Music

• Pastoral (1954)
• Listening to Mother Talking of the Past (1957) - This song won first prize in a Children's Song Contest in 1980.
• Cantata of the Red Army Base (1958)
• The Rickshaw Boy (1982)
• Call Me By My Pet Name (1985)
• We and You (1987) - This also won first prize in a Children's Song Contest.
• The Flying Petals (1988) - This won first prize in a Teacher's Song Contest.
• Releasing Pigeons at the Great Wall (1992) - Another first prize winner in a Children's Song Contest.

Movie Music

• Song of Youth (1959)
• Music of the Red Flag (1960)
• Xiangzi the Camel (1981)

Leadership Roles

Throughout her life, Xixian was a composer and a leader. She was part of several important music groups. In 1979, she was chosen as the Director of the Chinese Musicians' Association. A few years later, in 1985, she became the Vice President of the association.

Her Music and Society

Much of Xixian's music showed the different times she lived through in China. These included the period of New China and the Cultural Revolution. In the 1950s, Xixian and other Chinese artists used their music to express their ideas. Many songs from this time are still sung today. Xixian's song "Quan Shijie Renmin Xin Yi Tiao" was very positive. It means "All The World’s People Are of the Same Mind."

Many of her songs were inspired by old stories. They also came from what she saw happening around her. Some of her songs showed the difficulties faced by people who were not wealthy. For example, "The Rickshaw Boy" was inspired by a book. The book was written by Lao She and told the story of a poor boy. He earned money by pulling a rickshaw.

Personal Life

Beyond music, Xixian was interested in social and political issues. When she was 18, she left Shanghai. She traveled to Hunan in 1937. There, she took part in activities against the Japanese invasion.

Later in her life, Xixian became very ill with lung cancer. She believed that people should have the choice to end their suffering. She once said, "A good death is better than living with pain." She passed away from lung cancer on March 19, 2008, at age 89. While she was alive, she enjoyed reading and spending time with her friends.

Family

• Ex-husband: Zhao Fusan