Wu Zu-Qiang's reputation as a composer, teacher and theoretician (author of "Analysis of Musical Forms and Works") is formidable. He was born in 1927 in Beijing. At the age of 20, he enrolled in the National Nanjing Music Academy to study music composition and went on to the Central Conservatory in Beijing. After his graduation in 1952, he was sent to Moscow for advanced musical study at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music. He returned to China to teach in the Central Conservatory in 1958 as teacher, senior lecturer, professor and finally president (1982-1988). In 1979, he was elected General Secretary of the Association of Chinese Musicians, and has been its Vice-Chairman since 1985.

Wu is particularly known for his rigorous style and for developing his ideas through rhythm. While learning from traditions in Western European and Russian classical music, he also attempts to take advantage of the national style and character of Chinese music, striving to integrate the two in an organic fashion and create music with national characteristics. He has also
used Chinese musical instruments in concertos and symphonies, integrating Chinese folk music into the symphonic form.


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