Source: SYSU News Center
Written by: SYSU News Center
Translated by: Liang Wenjie, Zhang Saijia
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On November 21, in Sun Yat-sen University Library on South Campus, National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung and Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou held the handover ceremony of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (hereinafter referred to as the "Dictionary") returned by alumnus Mr. Hwang Yau-tai. The guests from National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung included President Hung-Duen Yang, Vice President of Office of Research and Development Li-Wei Tu, Director of Division of Academic Exchange of Office of International Affairs Tsang-Ling Sheu, Assistant of Division of Industry Collaboration of Office of Research and Development Jen-Yi Chiang. Attendants from Sun Yat-sen University included Secretary of SYSU Party Committee Zheng Detao, Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President Chen Chunsheng, Director of Sun Yat-sen University Libraries Cheng Huanwen, Director of Education Development & Alumni Affairs Office Li Hanrong. Persons in charge of President’s Office, Publicity Department, Education Development & Alumni Affairs Office, Sun Yat-sen University Libraries, and teachers and students from various schools and departments of SYSU took part in the event. The ceremony was presided over by Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President Chen Chunsheng.

On behalf of SYSU, Secretary Zheng Datao extended heart-felt thanks to President Hung-Duen Yang, and highly praised alumnus Hwang Yau-tai’s contribution to Chinese music development and devotion to music education. He pointed out that the significance of the Dictionary’s returning to SYSU Library transcended the act itself, which reflected the historical roots and friendship between the two universities across the Strait.

President Hung-Duen Yang summarized alumnus Hwang Yau-tai’s accomplishment and contribution in Taiwan, told a dramatic story about the returning of the Dictionary, and explained how the two universities worked together to realize the handover. He stated that it was significant that the Dictionary was returned to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, and he also looked forward to more cooperation opportunities between the two universities.

Executive Deputy Secretary and Vice President Chen Chunsheng introduced alumnus Hwang Yau-tai’s life and his works, summarized different characteristics of his music compositions in different periods, and affirmed his life goal of devoting to music education.

Director Cheng Huanwen introduced alumnus Hwang Yau-tai’s long and winding road of returning the Dictionary, saying that the handover ceremony not only fulfilled alumnus Hwang Yau-tai’s persevering wish, but also represented his noble moral character.

President Hung-Duen Yang handed over the Dictionary to Secretary Zheng Detao. On behalf of SYSU, Secretary Zheng Detao presented a certificate of appreciation to President Hung-Duen Yang. At the ceremony, SYSU Art Troupe performed the famous song "Azaleas in Bloom" composed by alumnus Hwang Yau-tai.

Mr. Hwang Yau-tai (1912-2010) was a musician and composer. His masterpieces including “Azaleas in Bloom”, "Far from Home", and “Canton My Hometown” are widely performed. Mr. Hwang Yau-tai studied in The Affiliated Elementary School of Sun Yat-sen University, Junior Division of The Affiliated Middle School of Sun Yat-sen University, and Department of Education of Sun Yat-sen University, where he graduated with excellence in 1934. He taught music at Teacher’s College of Sun Yat-sen University in Pingshi, Lechang.

During the Anti-Japanese War, SYSU Library received an order to move, first to Chengjiang in Yunnan province, and then to Pingshi in northern Guangdong province. Since Mr. Hwang Yau-tai borrowed the Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1927) edited by H. C. Colles (3rd edition, 5 volumes) from SYSU Library in 1944, he had tried twice to return them. The first time was during the Anti-Japanese War when the Teacher’s College of Sun Yat-sen University was ordered to evacuate and books had already been packed. Unable to return the Dictionary, he carried these five volumes as heavy as bricks and hid in Peicai Middle School in Zhanjiang. The second time was in 1945 when he went back to SYSU Library to return them. However, due to the fact that SYSU Library had just survived the war, without enough space or budget and with very limited personnel, and the Dictionary had already been reported as lost, the returning failed again. Later, carrying the Dictionary, Mr. Hwang Yau-tai traveled through Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 1998 he gave all five volumes as a gift to the library of National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung, which in his mind, was also a “Sun Yat-sen University”, and it could count in a way as “returning to the owner”.

With joint efforts of the two universities in recent years, the handing over of the Dictionary by National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou was finally achieved. All five volumes of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians returned to SYSU Library in Guangzhou after 69 years.