NTNU University Archives

Folk Music Master Hsu Tsang-Houei (1929-2001)

Biography
NTNU Connection
Field of Expertise
Honors and Contributions
Major Works

Hsu Tsang-Houei was born in Hemei Township, Changhua. He went to study in Japan when he was 12 years old, majoring in violin, and returned to post-war Taiwan in 1946.

He was admitted to NTNU in 1949. After he graduated he went to France to pursue further studies, returning to Taiwan in 1959. He was appointed to teach at the Department of Music. He was a chairperson of the Department of Music as well as director of the graduate institute (1991-1994). His teachings combined Western, Chinese and Taiwanese folk music.

He promoted and discovered different types of Taiwanese folk art and established the "Folk Music Collection Movement", "Folk Music Investigation Team", and the "Chinese Folk Music Society". He took Chinese music and transcribed it using Western methods. In 1973 he established the "Union of Asian Composers" so that Taiwanese music could become available to the world.

He was awarded the Order of the Brilliant Star (Second Rank) and appointed National Policy Advisor to the Office of the President. He received the Executive Yuan's National Cultural Award and was appointed Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France.

Chinese New Music Studies, Theories and Pedagogy of Chinese Folk Music, Where Did Chinese Music Go?

Folk Music Master Hsu Tsang-Houei