Lu Xiutang was born in Tangshan, Jiangsu Province, China in 1911. He taught himself to play the erhu at an early age. He also learned to sing classical Kunqu opera. Lu Xiutang’s talent allowed him to study with and eventually join the Jiangsu Musical Troupe. He continued to perfect his erhu playing and opera singing at the Shanghai National Music School. His entire life was dedicated to playing and teaching music — particularly the erhu. He greatly admired the work of the 20th-century composer Liu Tianhua. .
In 1949, Lu Xiutang taught music at the Beijing Art School and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Among his students were Wang Yi and Xiang Zuying — both acclaimed erhu players. Lu wrote the highly acclaimed textbook “How to Play Chinese Musical Instruments.”
During his lifetime, Lu Xiutang composed eight pieces for the erhu. His most famous piece, “Nostalgia,” was written in 1936. This moody patriotic piece expresses Lu’s distress at the Japanese occupation of Northeastern China.
Lu Xiutang was persecuted in the early days of the Cultural Revolution and committed suicide by drowning in the summer of 1966.
