Xiao Youmei in 1916. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In the opening concert on April 8, NCPA music director Chen conducted the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra to play pieces by Huang Zi (1904-38), Ma Sicong (1912-87), Li Siguang (1889-1971), Xiao Youmei (1884-1940), He Lyuting (1903-99) and Lin Shengxi (1914-91).

According to Chen and his team's research, the first symphonic work by a Chinese composer was Requiem by Xiao Youmei.

In 1916, well-known revolutionaries Huang Xing and Cai E died. Xiao, who was studying at the Hochschule fuer Musik und Theater (University of Music and Theater) in Leipzig, Germany, created the work to mourn the two.

Xiao conducted a 16-member orchestra of Peking University to premiere the piece in Beijing in 1925.

"Xiao had to rearrange the score since he had only 16 players. Though we found the spectra handwritten by Xiao, we didn't know what the original whole score was like," says Chen.

In previous editions of the Symphonic Spring program, the NCPA focused on introducing Chinese orchestras. Chinese works are another important point that the organization wants to promote.

"The concertgoers may be familiar with such names as Tan Dun, Guo Wenjing and Chen Qigang, but they seldom know their predecessors who gave birth to classical music in China," says Chen Zuohuang.