The Symphonies of Zhu Jianer: A Western Perspective

“John Robison’s insightful and illuminating study on the ten symphonies of Chinese composer Zhu Jianer is an important contribution to both the growing English-language scholarship on twentieth-century Chinese music and the enduring heritage of the symphonic genre. Robison convincingly demonstrates why these works matter, what makes them distinctive, and how Zhu, a composer largely unknown outside of China, has conceptualized the idea of a symphony and realized it in his own creative output.”
—William Everett, Professor Emeritus of Musicology, The University of Missouri–Kansas City

“Zhu Jianer was the foremost symphonic composer of his generation whose works set milestones for Chinese music in the 20th century. His cycle of ten symphonies, begun when the composer was at the age of 64, is the focus of John Robison’s book—the first comprehensive study of these extraordinary works published in English. It is an indispensable volume for anyone interested in Chinese contemporary music, as well as the Chinese intellectual movement of this momentous period.”
—Lei Liang, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Music, University of California, San Diego; Winner of the 2021 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition