Tan Dun takes leading role at ECNU

Ti Gong

Musician, composer and conductor Tan Dun was made honorary distinguished professor by East China Normal University on Friday, as the university set up an research facility under his name — the Tan Dun Music Center for the Future.

At a ceremony, the university Party secretary Tong Shijun formally made the appointment and presented a university badge.

“The university badge has brought everlasting responsibility to me,” said Tan. “But I’m happy as long as I can work with students, to explore the future and create a new self in the future.”

Tan is one of the most creative and productive Chinese composers. He is widely known for his scores for the movies “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero.”

“When listening to music created by Prof. Tan, I always feel proud as his works reflect the essence of Chinese culture,” said Tong. “Chinese culture is developing all the time. I believe after Prof. Tan will cultivate outstanding music talent using our university’s resources. The Tan Dun Music Center for the Future will provide wisdom and strength for the university’s development in the field of music education and research, talent cultivation and social service."

Tan said he wished to connect Eastern and Western philosophies through technology, while the music center would connect the history of the East and the West and to explore and enlighten the future.

The center will focus on three research areas: philosophy, technology and movies. Tan’s music originates in Chinese philosophy. At the center, he will explore the influence of Chinese classic philosophy on music, trying to establish a theoretical system of contemporary composition, use new technology to create new forms of preservation, exploration, re-creation and development of traditional culture.

The university will also set up a movie music center.

Ti Gong