German publisher Breitkopf & Hartel signs first Chinese musician

Breitkopf & Hartel, a leading German music publishing company, has signed its first Chinese composer as part of collaborations with Shanghai Conservatory of Music (SHCM).

Shen Ye, a 42-year-old composer and an associate professor of composition and orchestration at SHCM, became the first contracted Chinese musician for Breitkopf & Hartel, according to a cooperation memorandum inked between the company and SHCM on Friday.

The memorandum said the German publisher would also publish a series of important music pieces composed by contemporary Chinese musicians and help promote them around the world.

Liao Changyong, a famous baritone and the dean of SHCM, called the memorandum "a ground-breaking event which will help the world better understand China through music."

Liao added that Breitkopf & Hartel would publish a collection of contemporary Chinese music this year as the publisher marks its 300th anniversary and also in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Founded in 1719, Breitkopf & Hartel is the world's oldest music publishing house. It is dedicated to supporting contemporary composers and had close editorial collaboration with renowned musicians, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.