The reporter learned from the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra that double bass player Zheng Deren passed away at 3:11 a.m. on November 7 at the age of 101. Zheng Deren was born in Shanghai in January 1923. In 1943, he was admitted to the "National Music College", the predecessor of t

Reporters learned from the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra that double bass player Zheng Deren passed away at 3:11 a.m. on November 7 at the age of 101.

Zheng Deren was born in Shanghai in January 1923. In 1943, he was admitted to the "National Music College", the predecessor of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and studied double bass with Russian professor Shefu Shufu. In 1946, he joined the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's predecessor, the Band of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and became the first Chinese double bass player in the orchestra, and later became the vocal principal.

Zheng Deren became the principal double bass of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's predecessor, the Band of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Provided by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

In addition to playing classical music, Zheng Deren was also obsessed with jazz. His life can be called a history of the development of Shanghai jazz. In 1947, he joined the Paramount Jimmy King Band, the first Chinese jazz band in Shanghai.

In addition to being a double bass player, Zheng Deren is also engaged in composing and arranging music for the band. He remembers that when the movie "Water Lotus" premiered at the Grand Guangming Cinema, he watched it 54 times in a row, forgetting his emotions, and the next day, the theme song was played at Paramount.

During his time at Paramount, Zheng Deren left many precious memories: Zhang Xueliang often visited, Xu Zhimo was a regular customer, The engagement ceremony of Chen Xiangmei and the American Flying Tiger General Chennault was held here, and Chaplin and his wife I also went to dance here when I visited Shanghai. "I am very good friends with Zhou Xuan, Zhang Lu, Wu Yingyin, etc. We sometimes drink coffee and dance together. Their lives are simple and not flashy and extravagant as rumored by the outside world."

Zheng Deren is in Paramount Band Shanghai Symphony Orchestra provides

In 1956, Zheng Deren participated in the formation of the Shanghai Light Music Ensemble, and the translation of "light music" originated from him. At the Cultural Club at that time, which is now the Garden Hotel, his band performed for foreign experts every Saturday night and was very popular.

After the reform and opening up, by chance, the general manager of the Peace Hotel invited Zheng Deren to perform at the Peace Hotel. Zheng Deren led a group of musicians over fifty to form the Shanghai Senior Jazz Band, which began playing jazz in the small auditorium of Jinjiang Hotel. Later, he went to Went to the small bar of Peace Hotel. At that time, an Australian reporter wrote that if you look at the Peace Hotel, you will know that China has opened up. Although the instruments are very old and the music scores are yellow, the players are still a bunch of old men.

In 2017, the restored Paramount reopened, and 94-year-old Zheng Deren returned to the Paramount. Photo by Jiang Diwen

In 2016, at a Shanghai old songs concert at the Lyceum Theater, the reporter saw the 93-year-old Zheng Deren on stage conducting . He adapted jazz versions of "Rose Rose" and "Tuberose" to make these old Shanghai songs known to more people. Zheng Deren said: "Shanghai old songs are the carrier of Shanghai's local culture. Its tunes come from Jiangnan minor tunes, "Zizhu Diao", "Meng Jiangnu", "Wuxi Scene" and so on; but its rhythm is jazz. The combination of Chinese and Western is the Shanghai style culture "

In 2016, Zheng Deren, Cai Xiaoyan and Wei Jun performed at a Shanghai old songs concert.

On January 19, 2022, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra held a 100th birthday concert for Zheng Deren. He wore starched trousers and polished clothes. The leather shoes appeared in full glory. Recalling the days when he first joined the orchestra, he said: "At that time, I rehearsed symphonies with many musicians. They came from various European countries and had high artistic attainments. I was immersed in the artistic atmosphere of classical music every day, and I also realized , the double bass, a huge and low-pitched instrument, plays an irreplaceable role in the band, which laid the foundation for my future teaching work."

In addition to playing the double bass, Zheng Deren also composed "Torch Festival" during his tenure at SJTU. "Yi Nationality Dance", "Tea Picking Lanterns", "Beautiful Scenery of Jiangnan" and dozens of other works. These works were frequently performed at the orchestra's concerts that year and were recorded and published by the Shanghai Record Company.

At Zheng Deren’s 100th birthday concert in 2022. Photographed by Jiang Diwen

As the “veteran” of double bass education in China, Zheng Deren is famous all over the world, and his students are found in many orchestras at home and abroad. Student Hong Youlong said: “I started learning piano from Teacher Zheng in 1952, and I didn’t know how to read music at that time. Not only did he play the piano well, but he was also an excellent composer. Inspired by him, I also learned composition and orchestration. ”

Zheng Deren and his three daughters Photo by Jiang Diwen

Zheng Deren’s daughter Zheng Xuemei said that her father influenced her life. When I was a child, there were many musical instruments at home. I learned cello from my father, and my sister played the violin. The whole family was immersed in the world of music and felt rich inside. Later, Zheng Xuemei became a teacher at Xinghai Conservatory of Music, teaching piano and harp. “My father also transformed many violin pieces into double bass versions, bringing this corner instrument to center stage.”