Tan Dun

Quick Facts

Full Name	Tan Dun
Occupation	Composer
Date Of Birth	Aug 18, 1957(1957-08-18)
Age	67
Birthplace	Changsha
Country	China
Horoscope	Leo

Tan Dun Biography

Tan Dun is one of the most popular and richest Composer who was born on August 18, 1957 in Changsha, China. The is the year Tan Dun premiered his next opera, which was an adaptation to Tang Xianzu’s Kunqu production The Peony Pavilion. The production was directed by Peter Sellars in its original production Tan Dun’s The Peony Pavilion is performed completely in English however the main characters have to be taught in the Peking and Kunqu style. The small group comprised of six musicians plays electronic as well as Chinese instruments in the stage along with the actors. In terms of style, the music is a mix of Western avant-garde music and Chinese opera.

While in Columbia University, Tan Dun composed an opera for the very first time, which was a set of poems about nature by Qu Yuan titled Nine Songs (1989). The poems are performed by Tan Dun in Classical Chinese and contemporary English with a small group comprising Western as well as Chinese instruments. One of these is an instrument set specially designed for the occasion that includes 50 ceramic drums wind, and string instruments that were created in collaboration with the potter Ragnar Naess. To highlight the shamanistic character of Qu Yuan’s poems, the performers move and dance in a ritualized way.

In the first piece of the series, Orchestral Theatre I: O (1990), members of the orchestra make various vocalizations—chanting nonsense syllables, for instance—while playing their instruments using atypical techniques. For examples, the harp is played as a gushing, and the violins are played as percussion instruments.

In the 1990s, Tan Dun began working on a series of orchestral pieces that would analyze the relationship between performer and audience by synthesizing Western classical music and Chinese ritual. According to the composer,

Although not specifically opera Though not specifically opera, a lot of Tan Dun’s compositions incorporate elements of opera in terms of music and stage. For instance the violin concerto he composed, Out of Peking Opera (1987 updated 1994) is a reference to the Jinghu’s fiddling tunes that are that is often found within Peking opera. Also, Ghost Opera (1994) composed for string quartet and pipa has a minimalist set and lighting. The original composition was commissioned by Kronos Quartet and Wu Man, Ghost Opera has been performed all over the world and recorded for Kronos and Wu Man for Nonesuch Records.

Tan Dun Net Worth

Tan Dun is one of the richest Composer from China. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Tan Dun 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Tan Dun was born in 1957 in the village of Changsha located in Hunan Province of China. As a youngster Tan Dun was fascinated by the rituals and celebrations that the village’s shaman performed which were often performed to music composed of natural objects like rock and water. Due to the bans put in place by the Cultural Revolution, he was disqualified from performing and was assigned to work as a rice planter at the Huangjin commune. He was part of the group of residents of the commune and was taught how to play the classical Chinese strings instruments. Following a ferry collision that led to the death of some members of the Peking opera troupe Tan Dun was enlisted to play violist and arranger. His initial success led to an orchestra spot and, from there, he enrolled at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1977. While studying at the Conservatory, Tan Dun came in contact with composers like Toru Takemitsu George Crumb, Alexander Goehr Hans Werner Henze Isang Yun, and Chou Wen-Chung. All of them had an influence on his music style.

Tan Dun (simplified Chinese: Tan Dun ; traditional Chinese: Tan Dun ; pinyin: Tan Dun , Mandarin pronunciation”than tu@n” born on 18 August , 1957) is known as a Chinese modern classical music composer piano, conductor and viola d’amore player and conductor. He is most well-known for his music for the films Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero and also for creating music for the ceremony for medals during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His compositions often contain audiovisual elements and instruments that are made from organic materials like water, paper and stones; and are often influenced by the traditional Chinese ritual and theatrical performances. He was chosen as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. He has received numerous awards for his efforts which include the Academy Award, a Grammy Award and an BAFTA award.

In the mid-1990s, Tan Dun began working on another series of orchestral works known as the Yi series, named for the I Ching (Yi Jing in pinyin). Each numbered work in the series builds upon the original, Yi°: Concerto for Orchestra (published 2002), by adding a solo instrument. The first concerto in the series, Yi1: Intercourse of Fire and Water (1994), was written for and premiered by cellist Anssi Karttunen. The second work, Yi2: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra (1996), combines flamenco and pipa techniques and was premiered by Sharon Isbin.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Tan Dun height Not available right now. Tan weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Tan Dun Dating?

According to our records, Tan Dun is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, Tan Dun’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Tan Dun. You may help us to build the dating records for Tan Dun!

The final piece in the series, The Gate (Orchestral Theatre IV) (1999), focuses on three women of literary fame: Yu from The Hegemon-King Bids His Concubine Farewell, Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, and Koharu from The Love Suicides at Amijima. Based on the theme of sacrifice for love, The Gate is structured as a theme and variations. The style of each section corresponds to its respective character’s country of origin. Additionally, Yu is played by a Peking opera singer (Shi Min), Juliet by a Western opera soprano (Nancy Allen Lundy), and Koharu by a Japanese puppeteer (Jusaburō Tsujimura). As in Orchestra Theatre II: Re, the orchestra is distributed onstage and amongst the audience. The Gate also incorporates video, but unlike the prerecorded images used in Red Forecast, a projection screen displays live images of the three actress-soloists, manipulated in real time by a video artist. The video artist for the 1999 premiere was Elaine J. McCarthy.

Facts & Trivia

Tan Ranked on the list of most popular Composer. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in China. Tan Dun celebrates birthday on August 18 of every year.

Tan Dun earned more widespread attention after composing the score for Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), for which he won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and a BAFTA Award. Other film credits include the aforementioned Hero (Zhang Yimou, 2002), Gregory Hoblit’s Fallen (1998), and Feng Xiaogang’s The Banquet (2006).

Top Facts about Tan Dun

1. Tan Dun is a Chinese-American composer and conductor.
2. He was born in 1957 in Hunan, China.
3. His music blends Eastern and Western traditions.
4. Tan Dun won an Academy Award for his score to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
5. He has composed for the New York Philharmonic and other major orchestras.
6. Tan Dun’s works often incorporate non-traditional instruments and sounds.
7. He studied at Columbia University and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
8. Tan Dun has been awarded numerous honors, including a Grammy Award.
9. His compositions have been performed at major international festivals.
10. Tan Dun is known for his innovative approach to classical music composition.

What is Tan Dun known for?

Tan Dun has led the world’s most esteemed orchestras , including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Where does Tan Dun live now?

Since receiving a DMA from Columbia University in 1993, Tan has been based in New York City.

Where is Tan Dun from?

Changsha, China

Who is Tan Dun and how is he important to the world of film score?

Tan grew up planting rice during Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, but his music has taken him to Manhattan, New York, and on tour around the globe. He came into the Hollywood spotlight in 2001 when his score for the soundtrack to Ang Lee’s film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won an Academy Award.

Which is an opera by Tan Dun?

Operas