Shi Le_

Shi Le_ (1915-2008), formerly known as Shi Guanghan, was born on December 10, 1915 in Yichuan, Henan. He went to Yan'an in 1938 and studied in the Music Department of Lu Xun Academy of Art the following year. In 1940, he stayed at the school to engage in music teaching, composition and conducting. After 1944, he engaged in cultural work in the army. In 1952, he was awarded the title of "Composer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" by the General Political Department. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he successively served as the artistic director of the Art Troupe of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the leader of the song and dance troupe of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the vice president of the Art Academy of the People's Liberation Army. At 15:15 on June 16, 2008, Shi Le died in Beijing at the age of 93 due to ineffective treatment.

Chinese name: Shi Le_

Alias: Shi Guanghan

Nationality: Chinese

Birthplace: Henan, China

Date of birth: December 10, 1915

Date of death: June 16, 2008

Occupation: Musician

Graduation school : Lu Xun Academy of Arts

Representative works: "A Thousand Mile Leap into the Dabie Mountains"; "Long Live the Motherland"; "The Long March"

Life Experience

Shi Le_ (1915- 2008), honorary member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, consultant to the Chinese Musicians Association, the third and fourth vice-chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association, former vice president of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts, winner of the Chinese Music "Golden Bell Award·Lifetime Achievement Award", famous Composer and conductor. Born in Jiuhou Village, Yichuan County, Henan Province in December 1915. He has been influenced by folk music since childhood and loves to play the piano and sing. In 1928, he entered the Art Department of Kaifeng Normal School to study music. Under the influence of progressive classmates, he began to participate in anti-Japanese and national salvation activities. Graduated in 1934. The following year, he went to Zhengzhou as a primary and middle school music teacher. He has a strong interest in Henan Henan Opera, Yue Diao, Quju, Ping Diao, Erjiaxian, Zhuozi and other folk operas and folk arts. He arrived in Yan'an in 1938 and entered Shaanxi Public School in November. In February 1939, he entered the Music Department of Yan'an Lu Xun Art College and studied conducting and composition under Xian Xinghai. After graduating in May 1940, he stayed at the school as a conductor. He concurrently serves as a teacher at Yan'an Women's University and the Military Art School, and as chairman of the Yan'an Music Working Committee. In October 1944, he was transferred to the army to engage in political work. He successively served as director of the literary and artistic department of the Chongqing Municipal Military Control Commission, cultural minister of the Eastern Sichuan Military Region, artistic director of the art troupe of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, head of the song and dance troupe of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and director of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Vice President of the People's Liberation Army Art Academy and other positions. In 1979, he was elected as the vice chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association. In 1980, he was appointed as the editor-in-chief of the monthly "Song". Passed away in Beijing at 15:15 on June 16, 2008, at the age of 93.

Shi Le_'s music creation activities began in the early 1940s. When he was at Yan'an Lu Xun Art Institute, he wrote songs such as "Defend Moscow" and participated in the creation of Yangge operas "Blood and Tears" and "Zhou Zishan". During this period he was mainly engaged in conducting and social music work. His main creative activities took place after 1949. From 1950 to 1984, he wrote more than 500 songs, and created the cantata "Long Live the Motherland" (written by Wei Feng), "Long March Cantata" (written by Chen Qitong), the opera "Two Female Red Army Soldiers" (written by Chen Qitong), and the dance drama " Xiangjiang North" (co-operated with Lu Yuan and Zhang He) and the soundtracks of the films "Visiting Relatives", "Colorful Road", "Trail of Tears" (co-operated with Lu Zulong), and "A Dark Flower" (co-operated with Lu Zulong). From 1963 to 1964 and from 1982 to 1985, he participated in and presided over the music creation of the music and dance epic "The East is Red" and "Song of the Chinese Revolution".

Shi Le_’s music creation is deeply rooted in the fertile soil of folk music. He is good at selecting, changing, enriching and developing traditional folk tones, so that they can shine with splendor and gain new vitality to express new life content. The solo song "Three Oxen and One Horse" was developed based on two phrases of Henan Suizi's "Da Qiban". The chorus "Immortal Warrior Huang Jiguang" is composed by combining the tones of the northern folk art drums with the allegro rhythm of Peking Opera and using the artistic techniques of chorus. In the chorus "Long Live the Motherland", he chose the tones of Shaanxi's "Wanwan Tune" as the basic theme, and used this as the keynote throughout the whole song. "Heroes Defeat the Dadu River" absorbs elements of Sichuan folk songs and Sichuan river chants, giving it a high-pitched and bold character.

On the basis of rich and colorful folk traditional music, he wrote many songs with beautiful melodies, different personalities and strong national styles, such as "Singing Erlang Mountain", "Little River Flowing Water", "Huaxi Water", etc. Loved by foreigners.

Shi Le_ passed away in Beijing at 15:15 on June 16, 2008 at the age of 93 due to ineffective treatment.

Work experience

When it comes to Shi Le_, people will associate him with the songs "Singing Erlang Mountain" and "The Long March". Shi Lemeng composed a large number of revolutionary songs throughout his life, which had a wide influence among the masses. In his many years of creation, he has always focused on absorbing the rich nutrients of folk music to make it glow with new charm. His famous work "Three Sets of Oxen and One Set of Horses" was developed based on the tonal material of Henan Zhuizi's "Daqiban". A 1950 song "Singing Erlang Mountain" was adapted from a Xinyang folk tune in the Dabie Mountains.

In 1952, Shi Le_ was awarded the title of "Composer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" by the General Political Department. He was also the winner of the Chinese Music "Golden Bell Award" Lifetime Achievement Award. From 1963 to early 1964, the large-scale music and dance epic "The East Is Red" was staged in the capital, and seven songs including "Song of Sacrifice" and "People of the World Unite" composed by Shi Lao were selected.

In the summer of 1955, Shi Le_ was the conductor when recording the musical film "Yellow River Cantata"

In 1952, Shi Le_ was awarded the "Composer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" by the General Political Department title, he created a large number of works throughout his life, such as the suite "Thousand Mile Leap into the Dabie Mountains", the chorus "Long Live the Motherland", "The Long March", "Lei Feng", "Binding the Canglong", the chorus "The Red Army Misses Mao Zedong", "The Immortal Warrior Huang Jiguang" "In Memory of Premier Zhou", the opera "Two Female Red Army Soldiers", "Ode to the South Lake", the songs "Three sets of scalpers and one set of horses", "Singing Erlang Mountain", "Socialism Shines Light", "Huaxi Water", etc. Shi Le_, a famous composer and conductor in the music world and the winner of the "Golden Bell Award for Lifetime Achievement Award" in Chinese music, died of illness in Beijing at the age of 93. In recent years, with the passing away of Wang Xin, Qu Xixian, Qiuli and others, these artists who created the music career of New China have been cherished and missed even more.

When I contacted Shi Le_’s son Shi Han, he burst into tears on the phone when he mentioned his father’s conduct during his lifetime. "My father and I don't usually communicate much, but we have a very deep relationship. He is a kind and friendly old man. When he was in the hospital, he was very kind to the doctors and nurses who cared for him. When he was unconscious and awake, he was still there. He never forgot to tell us to thank the doctors and nurses and invite them to dinner. My father has many friends. He never acts like an elder. According to him, they are all friends. " Shi Han said that Shi Lao's personality is very balanced and comfortable. , although his health has not been very good since he was over 80 years old, his physical condition has always been stable. There was one time when he stopped breathing and was rescued. That was a severe blow to the old man's body, but he finally did not survive this time.

The famous singer Li Shuangjiang has a deep relationship with Shi Le_. He felt particularly sad when he heard the news of Shi Lao's death. "I am his old subordinate. I go to see him every year. I feel like he respects me." I respect him as much as my father. The songs he composed are very moving, and the melodies that come out of his heart are so close to the soldiers and the people, and give us so much strength." As he spoke, Li Shuangjiang couldn't help but sing Shi Lao's compositions. A few melodies from "Three Sets of Oxen and One Set of Horses" and "Singing Erlang Mountain". Li Shuangjiang also recalled Shi Lao's concern for him, "He was a very kind and sincere person. I remember that when I was first transferred from Xinjiang to Beijing, he was the director of the People's Liberation Army vocal music class. He took great care of me, especially during the special period of the "Cultural Revolution" During this period, he tried his best to protect many young singers." "His requirements in life are always the lowest, while work is always the highest." Li Shuangjiang repeated this sentence many times.

The famous conductor Bian Zushan is on a business trip abroad and expresses his condolences to Shi Le_’s family, “We all grew up listening to Shi Le_’s songs, and now we can still hear those songs. I think back to my feelings back then. The music industry in New China was pioneered by this generation of great artists, and we are all descendants here to enjoy it." Bian Zushan specifically mentioned that since 2004, a famous conductor has left them every year in the conducting world. "They are all our wealth. I sincerely hope these old artists take care of their health."

Music critic Chen Zhiyin is a "fan" of Shi Lao. "Although Shi Lao was very old, his death still shocked me. There are no people in their forties or fifties who don't know his songs. His songs were popular songs at that time, and they were widely sung. He was a talented and gifted musician, and his musical language was very personal and popular, and the lyrics and tunes were very closely integrated. Although Shi Lao had not written anything for many years. , but he has always been highly respected in the music industry. He was angular when he was young, but became calmer and kinder as he got older, making him a gentle and kind old man."

Praised by Shostakovich

When it comes to Shile_, people will associate it with "The Long March". In Shi Le_'s creations, he used strings of notes to compose his love for the motherland and the people. As early as 1952, Shi Le_ was awarded the title of "Composer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" by the General Political Department, and was also the winner of the Chinese Music "Golden Bell Award·Lifetime Achievement Award". In 1959, Shi Lao composed the chorus "Long Live the Motherland" for the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which was praised by the music master Shostakovich. From 1963 to early 1964, the large-scale music and dance epic "The East is Red" was staged in the capital, and 7 of his works were selected. Shi Lao has been in poor health since he was over 80 years old. He stopped breathing once and was rescued by doctors.

Shi Le_Wang Lijun’s happiness in marriage first and then in love

In the winter of 1983, Shi Le_visited Japan and stood in front of the poem monument of Premier Zhou Enlai in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Shi Le_: Born in 1916, from Henan. He once served as Vice Chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association, Chairman of the China Light Music Society, Vice President of the People's Liberation Army Art Academy, and Head of the General Political Department Song and Dance Ensemble. After hearing the news that the large-scale music and dance epic "The East is Red" will be rehearsed and reappeared on the stage, I couldn't help but think of the music master Mr. Shi Le_. In the music creation of "The East Is Red", *** selected "Song of Sacrifice", "Song of the Anyuan Road Miners' Club", "Glittering Sunshine at the Head of Zunyi City", "The Red Army Misses Mao Zedong", "The Red Army Misses Mao Zedong" and "Song of Sacrifice" composed by Shi Lao back then. There are seven songs including "Crossing Snowy Mountains and Grasslands", "Flying Over Natural Danger" and the finale of the song and dance "People of the World Unite". These songs have been sung by the crowd for decades.

Shi Lao’s home is in the building area of ??the Gansu Rest House on Huayuan East Road, Haidian District, Beijing. When the weather is fine, Shi Lao often sits in a wheelchair and bask in the sun. Standing behind him is walking with him. His wife Wang Lijun after 55 years.

I always thought that as an artist, I would inevitably have a romantic love experience, but the love story between Shi Le_ and Wang Lijun was so ordinary. In February 1949, just before the People's Liberation Army crossed the Yangtze River, 17-year-old Wang Lijun, who was working in a newspaper office in western Henan, joined the army and joined the cultural troupe of the western Henan Military Region. At that time, the leader of the cultural troupe was Shi Le_. With the help of the army chief, Shi Le_ and Wang Lijun borrowed a common people's blue brick house with sunny tiles and simply arranged it into a wedding room with candles and flowers. The newlyweds held hands here for 56 years. After the marriage, before the two had time to spend their honeymoon in Huaqianyue, they followed the "Second Field Army" of the People's Liberation Army led by Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping to forcefully cross the Yangtze River, fight in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, march into the southwest, and liberate All of China. Mentioning this period of history, Shi Lao still couldn't hide the happiness on his face: "She (Wang Lijun) and I got married before we fell in love, but until now we have never had a quarrel, and we even got a golden wedding!"

As time goes by, they have entered old age unknowingly. Due to their age, they can only choose some light exercise that suits them according to their ability. He believes that cultivating the mind and cultivating morality is the best way to maintain health for the elderly. He pointed to the lawn at his feet and said: "The human heart is also a green lawn. It must be cleaned and weeded frequently to become beautiful. The weeds mentioned here refer to certain troubles and unhappiness that are easy to accumulate. Qing The trick to weeding is to forget. Forgetting is the breeze that disperses dark clouds and is an expert at cleaning the heart. With it, life will be bright and sunny, and life will have a cheerful and calm state of mind. Learning to forget is a kind of detachment and peace of mind. A kind of demeanor, a kind of strength, a kind of display of confidence and vitality. Of course, while eliminating those things that should be forgotten, one must also be good at remembering those real, beautiful people and things that can inspire oneself to move forward, so that the soul can be moved forward. The garden will always be full of vitality. In this way, if you don’t forget your gratitude, your roots, and your righteousness, you can live a relaxed, free and comfortable life.” Listening to Shi Lao’s words, I feel that this is a very well written poem. lyrics, a spiritual song of life insights.

People have to accept old age, but their hearts cannot grow old.

Not long ago, old man Wang Lijun wrote a lyric: "The wheelchair is gently pushed and turns slowly, the breeze blows on the face and the grass is green. It is a blessing to push and sit, and the warmth is with each other." Shi Lao liked this lyrics very much and soon became a fan of it. It composed a song, and the two elders often sang this song together. It can be seen that they are still intoxicated in the years of "get married first, fall in love later". After more than half a century of contact and running-in, the two elders have become completely familiar with each other, not to mention their daily routine and eating habits, and they also understand each other's mood changes and signs of illness. They are each other's health care providers and remind each other to have regular physical examinations and take medicines on time. , interdependent and caring for each other

Personal anecdotes

Marriage and love anecdotes

The famous musician Shi Shile_ once studied at Yan'an Luyi. There is a joke circulating about "Shi Le_Three Principles of Love"——

A recent photo of Shi Le_ and his wife Wang Lijun. At that time, Shi Le was a little older among his classmates, so people were particularly concerned about his marriage. Once, a star-like figure was introduced to him. Although this girl was beautiful, she was frivolous. When Shi heard this, she waved her hands repeatedly: No, no, humans are not animals. Another person was introduced who was an activist who carried out Kang Sheng's extreme "Left" line. Shi is a decent person and hates these kind of "athletes" who cheat on his friends the most. So, he shook his head again and again: It's impossible! This kind of person is so terrible. How can he have the heart of a woman? The third time, Shi was "kidnapped" by a younger brother among his classmates to meet with someone who was doing organizational work. It was originally about falling in love, but who would have expected, the girl developed an occupational disease, and when they first met, she started a political review! Shi Le didn't listen to more than three sentences, turned around and ran away. As he ran, he shouted to the little brothers chasing him: Sin, sin! Amitabha! I met the female judge! After that, Shi announced his "three basic principles of love": first, it is a person; second, it is a woman; third, it is a living woman. The story of shoe polishing

In the late 1950s, a delegation of Chinese musicians visited the Soviet Union. Shi Le?'s "Long Live the Motherland" cantata was praised by Soviet expert Shostakovich as "having the enthusiasm of Beethoven". A famous Soviet musician praised: "This is written by an expert who can write choruses. Although I have gray hair, I still want to learn from the young people in China. The music is very comfortable. One day, there were activities in the evening Early in the afternoon, Shi Le_ was whistling and polishing the leather shoes under the bed. Sometimes it was like playing a violin, bowing up and down, and sometimes like playing an erhu, the leather shoes were polished. Le_ tilted his head and looked again, and placed the leather shoes neatly in their place with satisfaction. When it was time to set off, he returned to the room with his comrades who lived in the same room.

The comrade-in-arms, as if no one else was around, picked up Shi Le_'s polished leather shoes and put them on. As he put them on, he said to himself: "The big brother of the Soviet Union is good, socialism is good, and this waiter shines shoes really well!" He got angry and said, "Man, you wore it wrong, I just wiped it on!" The comrade was startled, but immediately calmed down: "Man, you wiped it wrong, thank you! "He smiled proudly. Shi Le_ finally realized that he had to make wedding clothes for others! Originally, he wanted to show off his artistry, but it was too late to polish his own shoes! He shook his head, I had no choice but to wear my unpolished shoes!

The story of sending guests off

It was already noon when the leaders of the General Political Department's cultural troupe finished their meeting at Shi Le_'s house. Le_ spit, holding the spittoon cover, and went downstairs to see off the guests. The car had started, and Shi Le_ got into the car first, still holding the spittoon cover in his hand, "We should go to this performance. "The fun is not over yet." "Yes, you should go." "The leaders didn't stop thinking. It seemed normal, and no one found any problems. The car started slowly. A sudden brake, and someone was awakened: "Old Shi, why did you send someone halfway? ""oh oh! Forget, forget! I’ll get off the car.” “Let’s take you back!” "No, no, no!" "Shi Le_ was a little tired while holding the spittoon cover, so he lifted the spittoon cover and walked, with the rhythm of the march coming out again under his feet - he took the steps of the queue in a majestic and high-spirited manner.

Cyclists on the street stopped, and people on the tram also poked their heads out: On such a sunny day, why is this man using a spittoon cover as an umbrella, as if he is participating in a military parade? How did they know that this was a great composer who was preparing a march?

Personal evaluation

●Li Shuangjiang (Dean of the Music Department of the People's Liberation Army Art Academy): He is a representative figure of military culture

Teacher Shi was a member of the military as early as the Yan'an period The representative musician had conducted the "Yellow River Cantata" at that time. When the Southwest was liberated, he wrote "Heroes Defeat the Dadu River", which promoted the victory of the war and played an immeasurable role in connecting the emotions of the people's soldiers and ordinary people. "Singing Erlang Mountain" is still a classic to this day. . Although "The East is Red" is a collective creation, his contribution is indelible. People's war cannot be separated from music, and Shi Lao is a representative figure of military culture. He has been the leader of the General Political Department Song and Dance Ensemble and the head of our department. I am here to take over his class. He was very high-ranking from an early age, but he never opened his mouth to ask for an official position. Shi Lao was a very good father and husband, and his wife was very emotional every time she talked about him. I have had a friendship with him for over 40 years. The day before he left, I suddenly wanted to see him. At that time, he saw me nodding and opening his eyes slightly.

●Xu Peidong (composer): Shi Lao and I are "buddies". Shi Lao and I have been friends for many years. In Shi Lao's words, we are "buddies". I went to see him the day before his death. He was already wearing a ventilator and was in a coma. Shi Lao's death is a great loss to the Chinese music industry. When he was in the hospital bed, he often joked and was very open-minded. He often had many famous quotes and jokes, such as "Treat the disease and the disease will be cured." We always said that he was a good person, but he joked about it himself. Say, "When I lie down, I am a good person, but when I stand up, I am a bad person."

●Yan Su (lyricist): Being with him is like a spring breeze

I just heard the news, I really didn’t expect that Shi Lao is my senior, he has been very optimistic and optimistic all his life. Simple and wholeheartedly dedicated to Chinese music. The most valuable thing about Shi Lao is that he always has a high-spirited and optimistic spirit. No matter in war years or in peace times, his mentality is very young. Being with him feels like a spring breeze, and he always feels very powerful and energetic.

●Yang Jiaxun (Professor of the Music Department of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts): The "shoe shine joke" has been passed down to this day

All the teachers and students of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Arts have a good impression of Shi Lao, because he is very He is decent and dedicated to his work. There are still "jokes" about him circulating in military circles. Once when he went abroad to have his shoes polished, Shi Lao actually polished other people's shoes. "This is because he was too focused on composing music."

Personal Works

Group Song "Thousands of Miles into the Dabie Mountains" ", the chorus "Long Live the Motherland", "The Long March", "Lei Feng", "Binding the Canglong", the chorus "Heroes Defeated the Dadu River" (with Luo Zongxian), "Song of Sacrifice" (with An Bo), "Red Army" "Missing Mao Zedong", "Immortal Warrior Huang Jiguang", "Little River Flowing", "Long March", "Missing Premier Zhou", operas "Two Female Red Army Soldiers", "Ode to South Lake", songs "Three Sets of Scalpers and One Horse", "Singing Erlang Mountain", "Socialism Shines Light", "People of the World Unite", "Rose in the Heart", "I Love You the Great Wall", "Ship in South Lake, the Cradle of the Party", were used for the movie "Visiting Relatives" , "Colorful Road", "Ten Thousand Rivers and Thousands of Mountains", "Dark Flowers", "Trail of Tears" and other soundtracks, and the erhu solo "Xiangjiang Music" etc.