11 Facts About Xian Xinghai

Xian Xinghai or Sinn Sing Hoi was a Chinese composer.

Xian Xinghai was among the first composers in his country to draw on western classical music and has influenced many later Chinese musicians.

Xian Xinghai was born in Portuguese Macau in 1905, to Tanka parents whose ancestors were from Panyu, Guangdong.

Xian Xinghai moved frequently in his early life with his mother as his father had died before Xian was born.

Xian Xinghai moved with his mother to Singapore when he was six years old, he was enrolled in Yangzheng Primary School for his primary education.

Xian Xinghai received training in both musical instruments as well as musical theory.

Xian Xinghai was later brought to Guangzhou for further education by his then school principal, Lin Yaoxiang, along with 19 other students.

Xian Xinghai started learning the clarinet in 1918 at the YMCA charity school attached to the Lingnan University in Guangzhou.

Xian Xinghai returned to China in 1935 to the Japanese occupied part of the country.

Xian Xinghai worked for film studios before going to the Communist headquarters in Yan'an, where he became dean of the Music Department at Lu Xun Institute of Arts in 1938.

In 1940 Xian Xinghai went to the Soviet Union to compose the score of the documentary film Yan'an and the Eighth Route Army.