British composer assigned to bring music to Chinese creation myths

SHANGHAI - Shanghai Light Music Orchestra has assigned world-famous British musician Simon Franglen to compose a suite of 18 songs about the creation myth of the Chinese nation.

Franglen, 53, is best known for producing "My Heart Will Go On" from the movie "Titanic," for which he won a Grammy Award for Record of The Year.

"The musician will be tasked with composing songs about the genesis narratives of the Chinese nation, including mythological stories of Nyuwa patching up the sky, Houyi taking aim at the Sun, and Jingwei filling up the sea," said Chu Baojie, director of Shanghai Light Music Orchestra.

"What I may be good at is blending Chinese tradition with elements of pop music such as electronic music, and creating an international language for China's genesis mythologies," Franglen said.

The lyrics of the song will be based on works by famous contemporary Chinese poets.

Franglen developed an early interest in Chinese culture, mainly due to the influence of his mother, who is a long-time expert and practitioner of acupuncture.

The songs will premier later this year and are expected to be performed overseas, according to the Shanghai Light Music Orchestra.