Good morning Professor Ye, distinguished colleagues and guests,
I am Gao Ying, Dean of the Composition Department at the China Conservatory of Music. My sincere thanks to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music for inviting me to attend both this concert of Prof Ye’s works and the symposium. I especially treasure the opportunity to join you all in reflecting on his creative achievements. This gathering is truly a profound meeting of artistic practice and intellectual exchange.
Professor Ye Xiaogang is one of the most representative composers of our time, and a defining force in shaping contemporary musical culture in China. Last night’s performance of Moon Over the West River and Horizon carried us back to the 1980s. Time has passed, but whether in the sweep of his symphonic thought or the subtlety of his emotional expression, these works remain as fresh and compelling as ever. Over the past four decades, his music has moved in resonance with the nation’s development, social change, and the voice of the community.
Prof Ye’s concern has never been limited to musical vocabulary or technique alone. With sharp critical insight and profound humanistic vision, he demonstrates how music can respond to the times and embody the spirit of an age. His works often achieve a balance between modern techniques and an unmistakable Eastern sensibility. His sound world is not a mere display of craft, but a vessel of cultural memory and a call toward the future. His artistic stature lies not only in his compositions, but also in the intellectual horizon and values he has established for others to follow.
As President of the Chinese Musicians’ Association, Prof Ye has consistently reminded us that contemporary composition must maintain academic rigour while also engaging courageously with reality; that it must preserve the independence of individual exploration while responding to the aesthetic needs of the people. Such guidance charts a clear course for young composers: to build solid foundations while also daring to break new ground, striving to unite scholarly depth with social relevance.
I am reminded here of Prof Ye’s keynote lecture this past May at the Exchange of Chinese Composers (Beijing). There, he stressed that contemporary music cannot remain in the ivory tower, but must connect more deeply with social life and with the spiritual needs of the people. He urged composers to take on cultural responsibility, binding personal artistic pursuit with the destiny of the nation’s spirit. His call was both an encouragement to the younger generation and a profound inspiration to the wider creative community.
As a teacher and scholar, I feel deeply the importance of this vision for contemporary music education and creation. It reminds us that music is not a soliloquy, but an art that resonates with society and shares in the emotions of the people. Each composer must find their place within this framework.
Prof Ye writes the age through his works, inspires his peers through his thought, and advances the profession through his actions. His music has shaped generations of young musicians, while also offering forward-looking guidance for the future of Chinese composition. Today’s symposium is another opportunity to engage with and learn from his ideas and practice.
May Prof Ye’s artistic journey remain ever vigorous. I wish him a very happy birthday, and continued creative nourishment.
Thank you all.
The video carries another appreciation from the same symposium by composer Jia Daqun in Chinese.
