Chen Gang (composer)

Chen Gang (陈钢, born 1935) is a Chinese composer best known for his collaboration with He Zhanhao on the violin concerto "Butterfly Lovers" (梁祝小提琴协奏曲), one of the most famous and beloved works of Chinese orchestral music.

Born in Shanghai, Chen Gang comes from a musical family; his father, Chen Gexin, was a renowned composer of popular songs. He studied composition at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he met He Zhanhao. Together, they created "Butterfly Lovers" in 1959, while still students. The concerto combines Western classical forms with traditional Chinese melodies and themes, drawing inspiration from a famous Chinese legend.

While "Butterfly Lovers" remains his most celebrated work, Chen Gang has also composed numerous other orchestral pieces, operas, chamber music, and film scores. He has continued to be active in the Chinese music scene as a composer, teacher, and advocate for cross-cultural musical exchange. His works often reflect a blend of Eastern and Western musical traditions.