Chen Gang (composer)
Chen Gang [陈钢)is a Chinese composer famous for violin concerto Butterfly Lovers, is son of Chen Gexin, a composer and songwriter active in nineteen-thirties and nineteen forties in Shanghai, China. Chen Gang started to learn piano and composition from his father and other music teachers from his early age.
From 1955 to 1959, Chen Gang was a student at Shanghai Conservatory of Music studying composition. In 1959, Chen Gang, together with his fellow student, He Zhanhao, composed violin concerto Butterfly Lovers.
In addition to the most widely known and played Butterfly Lovers. Chen also created numerous other works. He dedicated his life into combining western style music with Chinese contents and earned recognition not only in China but also worldwide. His works have been played by many world class soloists and orchestras.
References
- Naxos description of Chen Gang
- Chen Gang and Butterfly Lovers
- Article on Chen Gang on Baike (in Chinese)
- An interview of China's Xinhua News Agency with Chen Gang