Lui Tsun-Yuen

Lui Tsun-Yuen (; 1931 – January 8, 2008) was a Chinese composer and teacher of Chinese classical music. He is known for his compositions and recordings of the pipa and guqin, and is recognized for bringing Chinese music to Western audiences.

Early life Lui Tsun-Yuen was born in Shanghai. Though practitioners of music, Lui's grandfather worked as a doctor and his father sold mercantile goods. At the age of ten, Lui took up the study of classical stringed instruments, namely the pipa (a four-stringed lute) and the guqin (sometimes called the qin, chin, or "Chinese zither"). His guqin teachers included Wu Jinglüe and Hou Zuowu.

As a youth, Lui traveled around China to study with many generations of musicians. was also tutored in stringed instruments, and would later found the Chinese Orchestra of Hong Kong.

Career beginnings Lui graduated from Shanghai's King Yee College in 1953 with a degree in general education. In 1954 he left the People's Republic of China to work in Hong Kong. In 1961 a full U.S. tour included university engagements at Brown, Chicago, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Wesleyan, and Yale. He also adapted western musical compositions for the pipa, such as his transcription of the English folk ballad "Greensleeves". During his career he also appeared on Pacifica Radio, PBS and the Steve Allen Show.

In addition to playing classical compositions, Lui also wrote and recorded new music for the pipa. The two frequently performed together.

Lui retired from academia in 1991, after 30 years at UCLA. At the retirement reception, UCLA's dean of the College of Fine Arts presented Lui with a commemorative gold medal. Exotic Music of Ancient China (Lyrichord, 1964) China's Treasures: Lui Tsun-Yuen Plays Pipa and Chin (Lyrichord, 1965)