The wind ensemble "Funeral March" was composed by composer Li Tongshu in 1947. Since its creation, it has been designated as the official national ceremonial music by the country.

Li Tongshu is a composer, a member of the Chinese Musicians Association, a member of the China Copyright Association, and the former vice president of the Beijing Ethnic Folk Literature and Art Research Association. He enjoys special government allowances from the State Council and wrote the national anthem for Somalia. The Wind Ensemble "Funeral March" has been designated as the official national ceremonial music since its creation in 1947.

At the funeral that year, because there was no dedicated mourning music, only Chopin's version of "Funeral March" could be played or performed. This made Li Tongshu feel very uneasy. After all, Chinese people always use their own ceremonial music. This piece is still played together with mourning music at various funerals to this day.

Extended information:

Chopin's "Funeral March" was inspired by skeletons.

Once, Chopin came to the studio of the French painter Zim (1821-1911) to relieve his boredom. At that time, Chopin was troubled by the evil spirits in French legends. He often had nightmares at night, dreaming that demons and monsters were trying to take him to hell.

This dream reminded Qim of an image of a skeleton dressed as a piano player in the studio. He told Chopin about it, and unexpectedly it inspired the musician. At night, Chopin looked pale and his eyes were glazed over. He wrapped himself in a sheet and sat down close to the skeleton.

Suddenly, the silent air of the studio was broken by broad, slow, serious and deep music. It turned out that he was composing a "Funeral March" on the piano. This funeral march later became the third chapter of the "Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor".

On October 30, 1849, at Chopin’s funeral held at St. Magdalene Church in Paris, French composer Rebert specially adapted this funeral march into an orchestral piece as a prelude to the funeral. Chopin never expected that the "Funeral March" he composed would actually open his own funeral.

Baidu Encyclopedia—Funeral March