Scott No: -
Serial number: 2012-4
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: April 15, 2012
Denomination: 480 fen
Designer: Cun Junwang
Size of stamps: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 16
Size of sheet: 190 * 170 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On April 15, 2012, China Post issued the commemorative stamp set "Modern Chinese Musicians (I)" with catalog number 2012-4. The set consists of four stamps, featuring Xiao Youmei, Liu Tianhua, He Lüting, and Ma Sicong. Each stamp has a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 4.80 yuan. The stamps were designed by Cui Junwang, with Chen Yisi serving as the responsible editor, and were printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using anti-counterfeiting paper, anti-counterfeiting ink, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes.

This set is the first in a series of issues designed to honor the pioneering artists who laid the foundations for modern Chinese music in the 20th century. It systematically presents the early development of modern music education, national instrumental music, revolutionary music, and Western instrumental music composition in China.

Xiao Youmei is revered as the father of modern Chinese professional music education. He was the first Chinese to earn a doctorate in music. In 1927, he founded the National Conservatory of Music—the precursor to today's Shanghai Conservatory of Music—establishing China's first regular higher music education system. His representative work, "Questions," is deeply emotional and widely known. The stamp features his portrait with his early publications such as New Songs Collection (I) and Modern Music Collection (I), symbolizing his contributions to modern music education and the compilation of music textbooks.

Liu Tianhua was a master of modernizing traditional Chinese music. He focused on reforming the erhu and pipa, incorporating Western compositional techniques to enhance the expressive power of these traditional instruments. He composed classic erhu pieces such as "A Peaceful Evening," "Birdsong in a Secluded Valley," and "Towards a Brighter Future," establishing the modern erhu performance style. The stamp includes motifs of the erhu and musical scores, highlighting his contributions to revitalizing Chinese music and reforming traditional folk music.

He Lüting was a renowned composer and music educator who participated in the national salvation music movement. His piano piece "The Cowherd's Flute" is a milestone in the indigenization of Chinese piano music, and his song "The Guerilla's Song" is well known across China. He left a substantial body of work in vocal, instrumental, and film music. The background of his stamp features musical notation, reflecting his wide-ranging compositional achievements.

Ma Sicong is hailed as the "foremost violinist in China" and served as the first president of the Central Conservatory of Music after the founding of the People's Republic of China. His works blend Chinese folk melodies with Western compositional techniques. His "Nostalgia" has become a representative Chinese violin piece, advancing the art of violin in China. The stamp incorporates violin motifs, consistent with his artistic identity.

The stamp set employs a design approach featuring realistic sketches of the figures paired with thematic background elements. The style is elegant and understated, with vivid portraits. Each stamp is uniquely contextualized with the musician's representative instrument, score, or writings, reflecting their respective artistic fields. In the history of New China's stamp issues, Nie Er and Xian Xinghai had previously been commemorated with individual stamp issues. This set brings together four foundational musicians at once, enriching the thematic narrative of modern Chinese music. As the fourth new stamp issue of 2012, following closely after the 2012-3 "Zhonghua Book Company" stamp, it is an important addition for thematic collections focused on historical figures and music, encapsulating the century-long journey of modern Chinese music from its inception to its flourishing development.