Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng said yesterday the government planned to develop two Portuguese-style houses into a memorial to local musician and patriot Xian Xinghai, adding that the project was expected to be completed within the next two years.
According to Wikipedia, Xian, who was born in Macau in 1905, was one of the earliest generation of Chinese composers influenced by western classical music who has influenced generations of Chinese musicians. Although he composed in all major musical forms (two symphonies, a violin concerto, four large-scale choral works, nearly 300 songs, and an opera), he is best known for his Yellow River Cantata upon which the Yellow River Concerto for piano and orchestra is based.
He died of pulmonary disease on October 30, 1945 in a hospital in Moscow at the age of 40.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng talks to reporters yesterday outside Na Tcha Temple next to the St Paul’s Ruins. Photo: MPDG
Pedestrians walk past a Portuguese-style house in Rua de Francisco Xavier Pereira yesterday. Photo: Davis Ip
Please read the full article in our print edition.
