Mr Liu Dehai was a famous Chinese pipa performer
Mr Liu Dehai was a famous Chinese pipa performer, educator, composer and grandmaster. He made outstanding contributions to the pipa art course in China and was loved and welcomed by people all over the country and across the world. Sadly, Dehai died on April 11, 2020, in Beijing at the age of 82. Mr Liu Dehai was born on August 13, 1937, in Shanghai. He enrolled in the Central Conservatory Music school in 1957 to further his education in music where he studied under the western music education system meaning that his musical skills were according to the culture and style of the people from the west region. After graduating, Dehai remained in the institution where he taught students how to play pipa music. Dehai’s music career continued to grow across the world as influential leaders enjoyed listening to him perform, and he began working with other famous composers like Ozawa.
His musical career continued to thrive, and his artistic footprint spread across the world. Prominent leaders such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Song Qingling among other leaders from the older generation praised Dehai highly after watching him perform. Besides many heads of states visiting China ended up liking Chinese music after listening to him. In 1970, Dehai became the soloist of the central orchestra, which was such a significant achievement.
In 1979, Dehai began to expand his career by working with other people. He worked with Seiji Ozawa: a Japanese conductor famous for composing and leading symphony orchestras. He collaborated with Ozawa and the Boston symphony orchestra in recording music and performing the pipa concerto called “little sisters in the prairie”. He has successfully cooperated with the Berlin symphony orchestra since 1981. He is known as the first Chinese folk music player to work together with a symphony orchestra from the western region. Dehai’s passion for music was evident. He once told his friend that “I am a climber on the road of the development of folk music. I know it has no end, so I will continue to climb until my end, even If there is more bitterness and loneliness”. This statement shows the extent that he was willing to go for the love of music. It is such a spirit that makes Liu Dehai an epoch-making figure in the development and innovation of pipa performances.
Liu Dehai is a legend for always advocating and campaigning for the popularity of folk music among the Chinese. He always assumed the responsibility of spreading Chinese culture everywhere he went. Dehai’s outstanding contribution to making our country’s folk music known across the world is undeniable. Dehai’s death is a significant loss for the generation of pipa masters, lovers and music players. It is hard to express the heartache. I deeply mourn Mr Liu Dehai, and I wish him good in his next life.