Ma Sicong

Full biography Ma Sicong

Ma Sicong was a Chinese composer born in 1912 in Guangzhou, China. He was an influential figure in the development of Chinese classical music during the 20th century. Ma Sicong was born into a family of musicians and started learning to play the violin when he was just six years old. He went on to study music in Shanghai, where he began composing music inspired by traditional Chinese melodies.

One of Ma Sicong's most famous works is his "Yellow River Concerto," which was written in 1939. This piece is inspired by the "Yellow River Cantata," a famous Chinese vocal work that celebrates the Yellow River and the struggles of the Chinese people. The "Yellow River Concerto" is written for piano and orchestra and is considered one of the most important works in Chinese classical music.

Ma Sicong's music was often thought of as patriotic and was used as a way to promote Chinese culture and identity. During the 1950s and 1960s, he held important positions in the Chinese government and served as a cultural ambassador, traveling to countries such as the Soviet Union and Vietnam. His music was well-received and helped to spread Chinese culture during a time when China was not well-known to the rest of the world.

Ma Sicong died in 1987, but his legacy lives on through his music. He is remembered as a pioneer of Chinese classical music who was able to combine traditional Chinese melodies with Western classical music techniques to create a new sound that captured the spirit of China.