Mai Xin (1914—1947), originally named Sun Peiyuan, was a native of Changshu. He was born in Shanghai, and used such alternative names as Moxin and Tieke. He learnt music at a very early age. Since his father’s death in 1925, Mai’s mother had to support the family by doing sewing and laundry work. After quitting school in 1929, Mai worked first as an intern and later a full-time employee at American Asiatic Underwriters. He actively took part in the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement since the September 18th Incident in 1931. In 1935, Mai became one of the founders of Shanghai People’s Singing Society and Shanghai Amateur Chorus. The following year witnessed his participation in Songwriters’ Friendship Association. Mai then started to learn composition and conducting under Xian Xinghai’s guidance. His music composition career thus began. After the outbreak of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in July, 1937, Mai Xin joined Shanghai Singing Circles’ Wartime Committee and became one of the leaders. He engaged himself in visiting and comforting wounded soldiers and educating refugees. He wrote the famous “Broadsword March” which was spread all over the country and exerted significant influence. His other popular works included “Sacrifice at the Last Minute” (Meng Bo as the composer), “Defending Madrid” (Lv Ji as the composer) and “In Fear of No Resistance” (Xian Xinghai as the composer), etc. Mai joined the Communist Party of China in the spring of 1938. He later went to Yan’an and worked at Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts. Furthermore, he took positions as secretary of the executive committee of Yan’an Composers Association, a member of the executive committee of the Anti-enemy Association of Music Circles at Border Areas and a judge on the jury of Nie Er Creation Scholarship. The musician also wrote such works as “Opening up Wasteland at Nanniwan,” “The Red May Song” (He Lvting as the lyric writer), “A Ditty of Spring Ploughing,” “Protecting the Border Region,” “The Song of Mao Zedong,” “The Mausleum of Liu Zhidan” and so on. In addition, he published a couple of academic papers, namely “On the Composition of Children’s Songs” and “On Nie Er’s Mass Songs.” After the victory of the War of Resistance, Mai Xin followed Chen Yi to work in East China, Shanghai and other places. Later he was transferred to posts in Northeast China. In 1946, he worked as Minister of the Publicity Department and Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Kailu County Committee of Rehe Province (an area in today’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region). On June 6, 1947, during his visit to the countryside, Mai Xin was assaulted by bandits and died while on duty. Mai was one of the forerunners of the New Music Movement in China. His memorial is located in Kailu Town of Kailu County in the City of Tongliao of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
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