The Path of Wisdom - Ai Siqi, a Generation of Philosophers

Author: Lu Guoying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features:
10. Deep Affection for Nie Er
When Ai Siqi organized a drama troupe performance at No. 1 High School, he invited Nie Er's band to play music before the show. The pieces played were Chinese folk music, such as "Plum Blossoms in Three Reels," "Little Peach Blossom," and "Autumn Sorrow," which enhanced the atmosphere of the theater.
Shared Musical Interests Nie Er, originally named Nie Shouxin, was from Yuxi, Yunnan, and came from a poor family. Born in 1912, he was two years younger than Ai Siqi. Between 1925 and 1928, Nie Er studied at the Joint Middle School and the Advanced Department of Yunnan Provincial Normal School in Kunming. He had a deep love for music from a young age. In primary school, he learned to play the flute under a carpenter teacher. Later, he studied the erhu, sanxian, and yueqin with a neighborhood elementary school music teacher named Zhang Fuhou. In high school, he organized a small band, playing various instruments himself while also serving as the band conductor. He was also elected as the president of the student self-governing association. Through social activities, Ai Siqi and Nie Er met and gradually became close friends. Ai Siqi also loved music and encouraged Nie Er to pursue his passion. Knowing Nie Er's family was poor, Ai Siqi used his birthday money to buy a flute for him as a gift. Ai Siqi's uncle, Li Riquan, had a accordion at home, and he took Nie Er to his uncle's house to practice playing it. In his spare time, Ai Siqi and Nie Er often gathered to play ball, swim, and perform together. Nie Er often invited Ai Siqi and other music-loving classmates to his home for small concerts, where they played classical pieces like "Zhaojun Crossing the Desert" and "Su Wu Herding Sheep."
Inspiration for Nie Er Seeing that Nie Er also loved reading, Ai Siqi often lent him popular books and magazines of the time, such as Student Magazine, Eastern Magazine, Novel World, World Weekly, Lu Xun's Wild Grass, The Wandering, and The Call. Sometimes, Ai Siqi would share with Nie Er the basics of Marxism and instill in him the ideas of anti-imperialist and anti-feudal democratic revolution. Once, Ai Siqi earnestly advised Nie Er, "I suggest you compose some music that can inspire people. Write your own compositions instead of just playing other people's tunes." These words had a great impact on Nie Er and inspired him. When Ai Siqi returned to Kunming from Japan in 1928, he provided Nie Er with some books, including biographies of world musicians, and brought him famous musical pieces like "The Internationale," "The Marseillaise," and "The Volga Boatman's Song." Ai Siqi translated these from Japanese to Chinese, and Nie Er taught them to others. These moving songs quickly spread among friends and were popular in Kunming.
Interactions in Shanghai Later, Nie Er moved to Shanghai, and so did Ai Siqi. Nie Er's uncle, Zheng Yili, was a classmate and friend of Ai Siqi in Japan, and through him, they established contact in Shanghai. They often exchanged ideas and information, encouraging each other. During his time in Shanghai, Nie Er was exceptionally hardworking. To create "The Song of the Open Road," he spent days and nights experiencing life among the workers at the Whampoa dock. He rented a small apartment near Xifeng Road, where he composed music or practiced the violin and piano after work. His meager salary from working at the Mingyue (Moonlight) and Lianhua Film Company barely covered his rent and piano rental, leaving little for living expenses. Ai Siqi often helped Nie Er financially. Nie Er composed many inspiring revolutionary songs like "The Song of the Open Road" and "The March of the Volunteers," and Ai Siqi was delighted. He often hummed the tunes Nie Er composed. When Nie Er tragically died abroad, Ai Siqi was deeply grieved. He took a photo next to Nie Er's portrait as a way to mourn him. After the liberation, Ai Siqi often told us about Nie Er but never mentioned their friendship. He only expressed deep sorrow for Nie Er's untimely death. Whenever he spoke of Nie Er, his grief was evident in his words.