Taiwanese composer and performing arts promoter Hsu Po-yun (許博允) died on Monday, at age 79, after battling cancer for many years, according to New Aspect, a foundation he had run for more than four decades to introduce global artists to Taiwan.
Hsu is believed to have died from organ failure caused by the cancer which had spread.
Emma Lee (李慧良), the foundation's public relations manager, said on Monday that Hsu's wife, flutist Fan Man-nong (樊曼儂), has been handling the day-to-day operations of the foundation, and will make funeral arrangements following Hsu's death.
Further information will be released in the coming days, Lee said.
Born in Tamsui District, New Taipei in 1944, Hsu began studying music theory and violin under National Taiwan Normal University Professor Hsu Tsang-houei (許常惠) in 1960 and first published music pieces in 1962.
In the early 1970s, choreographer and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre founder Lin Hwai-min (林懷民) used several pieces composed by Hsu for his dance pieces, including his solo performance -- "Han Shih" in 1974.
Lin told CNA following the news of Hsu's death that the composer had been one of the biggest supporters of the dance troupe when Cloud Gate was founded, and had helped with "raising funds, offering advice and giving the dance troupe its first audio recorder out of nowhere."
National Award for Arts winning composer Lai Deh-ho (賴德和) described Hsu's works as the result of his burning passion.
"They are avant-garde and creative," Lai told CNA, adding that Hsu had never played by the rules.
"One time, he could not finish a commissioned work, so he just went on stage and talked about the piece to the audience during a concert. Only he could do such an astonishing act," Lai said.
Since the establishment of New Aspect foundation by his father in 1978, Hsu had kept bringing many international programs to Taiwan, so the country could keep up with the world in the performing arts field, Lai said.
"He opened a door for Taiwan to the world," said Ju Percussion Group founder and former National Performing Arts Center Chairman Ju Tzong-ching (朱宗慶).
Hsu's New Aspect foundation had brought top class groups to Taiwan, such as Japanese drumming group Ondekoza, and created opportunities for local young percussionists through events including master classes, Ju said, praising Hsu for his influential role in the development of percussion in Taiwan.
