Dun Tan was born on August 18, 1957 in Si Mao, Hunan Province, China. He is known for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hero (2002) and Fallen (1998).
[on composing his opera 'Tea: A Mirror of the Soul'] When I was in the southern regions of China, which of course is the home of tea, I had the opportunity to interview an eminent nun. She always presents to her first-time guests an empty tea bowl, and on such occasions she herself puts [one]to her lips, as if to drain it of its contents. In this very action her spiritual world view becomes vividly apparent. In 'The Book of Tea' itself, the author Lu Yu writes about water, wind, fire and earthenware. I wanted to assimilate all these elements into my work because they are all essential to the aesthetics of tea.
2
I have been working with 'water' for a very long time. I think human beings are profoundly connected with water. Humans hear the sound of water even before birth. It might be the very first sound one hears in his life. Human health, human culture, human origins and human futures cannot be separated from water. I was born and grew up on the banks of the Liuyang River in Hunan province. Water has always been music to me. My earliest contact with music was water as a musical instrument. [It] is about my belief, my talent and my inspiration.
3
Beautiful melodies are timeless, boundless, and appeal to all hearts. I think of a melody as a vibration that is emitted naturally from the body.
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Fact
1
Studied in the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China's highest music institution.
2
Became famous around China for his "Heaven, Earth, Mankind" Symphony composed in celebration of the 1997 Hong Kong handover, using a complete set of "Bian Zhong", a priceless set of bronze bells in various sizes built over 2000 years ago.
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Heaven's Gate
2013
Documentary
The Metropolitan Opera HD Live
2007
TV Series 1 episode
Ye yan
2006
Independent Lens
2006
TV Series documentary 1 episode
Taoism in a Bowl of Water: Tan Dun, a Chinese Composer
2003
Documentary
The Map
2003
Opera 'Tea - Chakyouibun' Tan Dun Sakkyoku
2002
TV Movie music composed and conducted by
Ying xiong
2002
New Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2001
Video
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2000
The Crouching Tiger Concerto
2000
Short
In the Name of the Emperor
1998
Documentary
Fallen
1998
Nanjing 1937
1995
De oogst van de stilte
1995
Documentary
Aktion K
1994
Documentary
The Mao Years: 1949-1976
1994
China in Revolution: 1911-1949
1989
Documentary
Hou bu dui yuan
1983
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
2009
TV Mini-Series documentary musician - 1 episode
Beijing 2008 Olympics Games Opening Ceremony
2008
TV Movie music supervisor
The Metropolitan Opera HD Live
2007
TV Series conductor - 1 episode
Nova
2003
TV Series documentary composer - 1 episode
Ying xiong
2002
conductor
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2000
conductor / electronic music programming / music producer
$1.5 Million
