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In the quiet piano room, an old man with white hair sits intently in front of the grand piano, his slender fingers gently running over the keys. Every fingertip swipe is like a dance of the soul, reverberating the heartstrings of the melody throughout the room.
These notes are like a pool of crystal clear water, stirring the emotional waves in people's hearts.
This old man is the great composer we know well, Professor Gu Jianfen, who is respected as the founder and leader of Chinese pop music.
Although he has entered his old age, Professor Gu Jianfen still maintains tenacious vitality, and his bright eyes often shine with the light of wisdom with a unique eye. However, in her quiet moments, there is occasionally a hint of sadness in her eyes, as if she is chasing those good times that have passed.
Indeed, the musician, who has endured many doubts, accusations and slanders, has now become an undisputed musical giant, admired and loved by a wide range of music lovers.
Her life journey is undoubtedly a legendary story full of passion and challenges.
Professor Gu Jianfen was born in Osaka, Japan, to an immigrant family, and moved to Shandong, China with his family during his childhood. She showed outstanding musical talent since she was a child, and later successfully admitted to the Northeast Conservatory of Music for further study, and joined the Central Song and Dance Troupe after graduation, and since then she has embarked on the road of pursuing her music dream.
However, it was on this stage that her innovative musical style sparked widespread controversy and criticism. She is passionate about creating a new form of pop music, which is different from both traditional folk songs and rigorous symphonies, but is characterized by bright rhythms and new and unique lyrics.
At that time, the mainstream cultural circle was skeptical of this "heterogeneous" music, which they considered incompatible with the social environment of the time, and even held a special meeting to discuss whether it should be banned.
In the face of the flood of public opinion attacks, Professor Gu Jianfen, who has entered middle age, did not flinch, but strengthened his belief. She firmly believes that this new type of music is the result of years of research and practice, and that there are no flaws, but the audience at the time has not yet been able to understand and appreciate it.
With this unwavering confidence, she moved forward more courageously. She began working hand in hand with her husband Xing Bo, touring schools, factories and kindergartens across the country, performing her works live and explaining the profound meaning behind each lyric to the audience.
In this way, through the simple and kind faces, Gu Jianfen found a deep recognition in his soul. She finally deeply understood that the people are the fairest and most sincere judges, and as long as they can get their sincere recognition, it is the greatest embodiment and proof of self-worth!
So, she confidently created the classic "That's Me", and successfully made her best friend Zhu Fengbo sing for it. As expected, when the song "That's Me" came out, it immediately swept the country and won a lot of praise and applause.
Gu Jianfen was born in Osaka, Japan in 1935, and her parents were immigrants from Shandong. In that war-torn era, the whole family resolutely decided to return to their hometown - Shandong Province.
Gu Jianfen, who has shown extraordinary musical talent since childhood, has an incomparably deep love for music. She has a beautiful voice and is proficient in a variety of instruments, especially in piano playing.
With her outstanding performance in the field of music, she successfully joined the local art troupe and was admitted to the Northeast Music College for in-depth study with excellent results.
After graduation, Gu Jianfen entered the Central Song and Dance Troupe as he wished, and began his brilliant music career in the capital Beijing. At that time, she was petite and delicate, with a delicate and beautiful face, but deep down she burned an endless passion for art.
However, just as his career was booming, Gu Jianfen encountered a major turning point in his life. She was keen to explore a new style of pop music, in contrast to the folk songs or symphonies that were prevalent at the time.
The melodies of this kind of music composed by her are light and cheerful, and the lyrics are novel and unique, which are deeply loved by the majority of young people.
However, the mainstream literary and artistic circles have not been able to recognize her innovative ideas. They considered this "alternative" music to be incompatible with the current social environment, and even held a special meeting to discuss whether her masterpiece "Young People Come to Meet" should be removed from the stage.
In the face of such a strong wave of criticism, Gu Jianfen, who has entered middle age, did not flinch because of this, but strengthened his belief in creation. She was convinced of her musical talent and would never create any flawed work, but the audience at the time had not yet been able to grasp it.
With this unparalleled self-confidence, Gu Jianfen decided to express himself through a richer and more diverse composition, confirming his unique and highly innovative musical concept.
As a result, she threw herself into new music creations and spared no effort to tour the world, hoping to infect and attract more listeners with music full of real feelings.
In that era, Gu Jianfen and her husband Xing Bo put in great effort and preparation. Not only do they frequently appear in the auditoriums of well-known universities, but they also go to factory workshops, kindergarten campuses and other places where ordinary people gather to show off her new works to a wide audience.
Before each performance, Gu Jianfen carefully writes the names of the more than 20 songs she is about to sing on the blackboard one by one, while Xing Bo is responsible for paying close attention to the audience's reactions in order to adjust the performance strategy in time.
When the performance officially kicked off, Gu Jianfen would play and sing to herself one song after another, while patiently analyzing the profound meaning behind each lyric.
Amazingly, no matter where they went, the audience was almost deeply moved by Gu Jianfen's soulful and moving singing, and gave warm applause and high praise.
With the passage of time, she gradually won wide recognition from the masses of the people, and also rediscovered the original intention and courage of creation.
However, for Gu Jianfen, this process is undoubtedly a challenging low period. However, it was this difficult experience that tempered her perseverance and laid a solid foundation for her brilliant career in the future.
In the face of fierce criticism from public opinion, Gu Jianfen did not choose to retreat, but strengthened his belief in promoting his unique music style. She knows that in order to truly win the recognition of the public, it is not enough to rely on her own persistence, and she must personally explain the inner concept of her music to the people.
Therefore, she and her beloved husband Xing Bo have traveled all over the country, going deep into campuses, factories, kindergartens and other places where ordinary people gather, and telling everyone in detail about the source of inspiration for her creation of these works and the deep meaning behind them through live tours.
Whenever a performance comes, Gu Jianfen will always take the lead in listing the names of more than 20 songs that will be presented to the audience on the blackboard one by one, as a way to express his respect and importance for this performance.
Her husband, Xing Bo, was responsible for carefully observing the audience's reactions during the performance and collecting their valuable opinions and suggestions.
On the stage of the music scene, you can often enjoy the wonderful self-playing and singing performances of Maestro Gu Jianfen, who carefully explains the profound meaning of each lyric between songs.
She prayed with great devotion and fervent anticipation, hoping to touch the hearts of everyone present with her sincere and touching singing.
What is touching is that whenever Master Gu Jianfen travels all over the country, almost all the audience are deeply moved after listening to her works, with thunderous applause and continuous praise.
With the passage of time, Master Gu Jianfen has gradually won the understanding and recognition of the masses.
After receiving the enthusiastic support of the masses, Master Gu Jianfen's self-confidence doubled and became more determined in his musical path. She began to devote herself to the creation of new works, including the widely praised song "That's Me", which was born during this period.
With his outstanding musical talent and perseverance, Maestro Gu Jianfen successfully survived the low tide of his life, and at the same time verified the correctness of his musical philosophy.
She knows that nurturing the younger generation of musical talents is the best way to pass on the music career and spread the concept of music.
Therefore, in 1984, she founded the well-known "Gu Class" at home and abroad, attracting a large number of talented students, such as Mao Amin, Liu Huan, Na Ying, Sun Nan and others.
With his personal experience, Master Gu Jianfen taught students to have the courage to pursue musical innovation, dare to break the shackles of tradition, and touch the hearts of more people with a unique musical language.
Under the strict but loving guidance of Maestro Gu Jianfen, these students gave full play to their talents, won many honors in various competitions, and became the backbone of the Chinese music scene.
They are more like the protégés of Master Gu Jianfen, supporting each other and accompanying each other closely on the road of art.
From these students, Master Gu Jianfen seems to see his passion and perseverance. And cultivating these outstanding musical talents is her greatest wish and glory in her later years.
As long as their generation can stick to their original aspirations and ideals, China's music industry will be prosperous for a long time.
Behind the glorious music career of Master Gu Jianfen, there is also a touching love story. Her husband Xing Bo is her most solid support and love, and they have gone through the ups and downs of life together and worked together.
Mr. Xing Bo is three years older than Ms. Gu Jianfen, both from Shandong, and they met for the first time in the art troupe, and they sparked love between each other. At that time, Ms. Gu Jianfen was only 16 years old, at the age of flowering, with a delicate face and a distinct personality, and her charm made Mr. Xing Bo fall in love instantly.
Mr. Xing Bo himself is also a talented artist, and the two of them quickly resonated with each other because of their love for music, as if they had found close friends.
It didn't take long for them to decide to enter the marriage hall after in-depth thinking. After getting married, they were jointly selected for the Central Song and Dance Troupe and began their musical journey in the capital Beijing.
Since then, Mr. Xing Bo has become Ms. Gu Jianfen's strongest backing, no matter what kind of ups and downs and doubts she faces, he has always stood firmly by her side and survived the difficulties with her.
Ms. Gu Jianfen's deep friendship with Mr. Xing Bo is also sincere and warm. Even if she is physically and mentally exhausted from her work, she will still try her best to squeeze out time with her lover and convey her love in various thoughtful ways.
It is precisely because of Mr. Xing Bo's wholehearted support that Ms. Gu Jianfen was able to pursue her musical dreams without any worries.
Soon after marriage, their eldest daughter Gu Ying was born, and three years later, the youngest daughter Gu Qianhui also came to this world. The family of four is happy and has built a model of a happy family.
As a musician, Ms. Gu Jianfen naturally hopes that her two daughters can also be influenced by music.
When her youngest daughter Gu Qianhui was only five years old, Ms. Gu Jianfen enrolled her in a piano initiation course. She looks forward to her daughter's ability to cultivate musical talent from an early age, and perhaps one day in the future she will be able to embark on the path of music and follow in her mother's footsteps.
However, good times are always short-lived. When Gu Qianhui was ten years old, a sudden accident happened, she was accidentally injured in the "Learn from Lei Feng" activity organized by the school, one finger was severely squeezed, and she was no longer able to play the piano.
For Ms. Gu Jianfen, who has always loved her daughter, this is undoubtedly a heavy blow, and she feels deeply guilty and grief-stricken. Although she never forced Gu Qianhui to continue learning piano, as a mother, her heart was full of endless apologies and regrets.
Just as Gu Jianfen's family was gradually stepping into the road of happiness and consummation, an unexpected blow overturned like a tide! First, her husband Xing Bo, whom she loved from the bottom of her heart, died suddenly of a heart attack, and her life was frozen at the age of 82; not long after, her lively and lovely little daughter Gu Qianhui was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and left this world forever in just one year.
The death of her husband and daughter was like a thunderbolt from the sky, which deeply pierced Gu Jianfen's heart. However, thankfully, she was also accompanied by her eldest daughter, Gu Ying, which became her last spiritual support.
Otherwise, she would probably not be able to withstand such a heavy blow and come out of the shadows.
Although Gu Jianfen's family once had a good and happy time, fate always seems to like to play tricks on people. Just as they were just beginning to get on the right track, a series of misfortunes followed, dealing a heavy blow to the otherwise happy family.
The first is the misfortune of the youngest daughter Gu Qianhui. At that time, Gu Qianhui, who was only 10 years old, was participating in a "Learning from Lei Feng" activity organized by the school, but because of an accident, one finger was unfortunately injured and crushed.
Gu Jianfen, who is a musical family, wanted to pave a path to the music palace for her daughter, but she never expected such a tragedy to happen.
Although Gu Jianfen did not force Gu Qianhui to continue learning piano, as a mother, she was full of endless self-blame and guilt in her heart. She resented that she had failed to do her part, causing her daughter to suffer such serious harm.
Although Gu Qianhui later went to Japan to study and live and work there in peace and contentment, this regret has always haunted Gu Jianfen's heart.
What's even more tragic is that not long after Gu Qianhui left home, Gu Jianfen suffered two heavy blows in succession - her beloved husband Xing Bo and youngest daughter Gu Qianhui passed away one after another.
Xing Bo has always been Gu Jianfen's strongest backing and a lifelong partner in her career and life. Since the two met in the art troupe, they have been inseparable, no matter what kind of criticism Gu Jianfen faces or how many ups and downs she experiences, Xing Bo will always silently support her and fight side by side with her.
However, the good times are always short-lived, and as the years go by, Xing Bo's physical condition deteriorates day by day. Finally, in 2015, he died of a serious heart attack at the age of 82. The death of her wife dealt a great blow to Gu Jianfen and made her confused for a while.
While she was still immersed in heartbreak and grief, another more severe blow came - her young daughter Gu Qianhui was diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the brain.
Despite Gu Jianfen's best efforts to invest money in her treatment, the disease remained cruel and merciless, and after only one year, the young Gu Qianhui left this world forever.
The successive deaths of her husband and daughter undoubtedly brought a heavy blow to Gu Jianfen. At one point, she wanted to give up everything, full of despair and helplessness in life.
However, fortunately, her eldest daughter Gu Ying has always been firmly by her mother's side, and with her understanding and support, Gu Jianfen has regained the courage to survive.
It is precisely because of the encouragement of her daughter and the perseverance of the students that Gu Jianfen was able to break free from the endless darkness, rediscover the original intention of music, and devote herself to the cause she loves.
Otherwise, she would have fallen into an abyss from which she could not extricate herself.
The years are merciless, and time flies. Gu Jianfen, who is now over 90 years old, is still active on the music stage, and her mental state even surpasses that of many young people. After experiencing the death of her husband and daughter, Gu Jianfen was not knocked down by grief, but devoted herself to the music career with more tenacity and perseverance.
It was during those most difficult times that her students often visited, warming her wounded heart with love and encouragement. With their help, Gu Jianfen rekindled his love and dedication to music and walked out of the haze of life.
In order to pass on the joy brought by music to more people, she created the acclaimed "New Song School" children's song series. These works are inspired by poetry, and the beautiful lyrics are not only loved by children, but also brought joy to countless families.
It is these laughter and laughter that give Gu Jianfen the courage and strength to move forward. She told herself that the value of life is not only about personal gains and losses, but more importantly, about how to create happiness for others.
As long as she can bring joy to the general public, her music career will never stop.
Therefore, in the past few years, Mr. Gu Jianfen has always adhered to his original intention, devoted himself wholeheartedly, polished and launched wonderful new masterpieces one after another!
What is particularly commendable is that in this special year of 2022, she has created a collection of her precious music works with her life's hard work and sweat, which not only comprehensively demonstrates her unique musical concept and rich creative process, but also presents a visual and auditory feast to global audiences.
As soon as the compilation of this work came out on the market, it immediately sparked an enthusiastic response. Many senior musicians and artists commented one after another, and gave high praise to Mr. Gu Jianfen's outstanding talent and profound artistic attainments.
They unanimously agreed that it is precisely because of outstanding pioneers like Gu Jianfen that today's Chinese pop music can flourish and become brilliant.
From the once questioned and controversial "outlier" to now respected by the general public as "the pioneer and leader of Chinese pop music", Mr. Gu Jianfen has perfectly interpreted the noble mission of musicians with his unswerving life trajectory.
Her life has been full of vicissitudes and legends. However, these ups and downs eventually became valuable assets on her musical path. It is precisely because she has experienced the pain of being questioned by everyone that she can create those moving masterpieces that are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and it is precisely because she has tasted the merciless tricks of fate that she can embrace all the beauty of this world with a soft and firm heart.
Today's teacher Gu Jianfen has let go of all his attachments and concerns, and just tells his inner thoughts, emotions, loves and sorrows purely in the way of music, and conveys them to every listener.
Her story is like a melodious music that will always reverberate and stir in people's hearts.