Xian Xinghai (June 13, 1905 - October 30, 1945), formerly known as Huang Xun and Kong Yu, was a member of the Communist Party of China. His ancestral home is Panyu, Guangdong (now Lanhe Town, Nansha District, Guangzhou), and he was born in Macau. A famous composer and pianist in modern China, he is known as the "People's Musician".
In 1926, he entered the Music Institute of Peking University, where he studied under the tutelage of composer Xiao Youmei and Russian violin professor Tonov. In 1928, he entered the National Conservatory of Music to study music. In 1929, he went to Paris to work and study under the tutelage of the famous violinist Pani Obedofer and the famous composer Paul Ducasse.
After returning to China in 1935, he actively participated in the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Movement. He went to Yan'an in 1938 and later served as the director of the Music Department of the Lu Xun Academy of Arts. In June 1939, he joined the Communist Party of China. On October 30, 1945, Xian Xinghai died of lung disease in Moscow.
Xian Xinghai created a large number of fighting and infectious mass songs. From 1935 to 1938, Xian Xinghai composed "Army Songs for National Salvation", "I'm Afraid of Not Resisting", "Guerrilla Army Songs", "Go to the Rear of the Enemy", "In Taihang" Various types of vocal works such as "On the Mountain" have opened up a new situation of modern revolutionary music in China.
He also created immortal masterpieces such as "Yellow River Cantata" and "Production Cantata". It has inspired the national spirit and has become a spiritual weapon for the Chinese nation to resist the enemy and save the country.
In 2009, Xian Xinghai was named one of the 100 heroic models who contributed to the founding of New China.