Monday, September 25, 2006

EXHIBITION OF TAIWANESE COMPOSER TO BE HELD IN PARIS

Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) A retrospective exhibition on Hsu Tsang-houei, the first Taiwanese musician to study in France after World War II and one of the most respected composers in Taiwan, will be held in Paris, France from Sept. 28 to Oct. 25, the Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) said Saturday.

The retrospective show, titled "Navigator of Taiwanese Folk Music: Hsu Tsang-houei, " includes a month-long exhibition and an opening-night memorial concert at the Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris to pay tribute to the late prominent composer, who passed away in 2001 at the age of 72.

Hsu, who was born in Changhua in 1929, went to Paris in 1954 and became the first Taiwanese musician to study in France. It was in Paris that he learned that unique music elements are keys to instilling new life in music.

Hsu devoted himself to folk music compilation after returning to Taiwan in 1959. In addition to rewriting Chinese and Taiwanese folk songs with Western composition methods, he also helped found the Asian Composers' League and several modern music groups.