From curiosity to craze

How one man turned saxophone into a Chinese favourite

At the opening ceremony of the 20th World Saxophone Congress in late July, as a melody filled the venue, 57-year-old Yin Zhifa was swept back to that distant morning in 1976 when he first glimpsed the shimmering saxophone.

Little did he know then that over the next five decades, he would travel across China with his saxophone in hand, bringing fresh melodies to the lives of countless Chinese listeners.

Yin is a veteran saxophonist and currently serves as president of the professional saxophone committee of the China Popular Music Association (CPMA).

He said he still vividly remembers seeing a saxophone for the first time at a public performance when he was eight. “The golden gleam of its brass body and its vibrant, soaring melody instantly captivated me.”

‘Air of mystery’

Yin began formal training at nine and joined a local performance troupe at 17, becoming one of China’s few saxophonists of that era.

At the time, the saxophone still carried an air of mystery in China. While it occasionally appeared in military honour guard shows or parades, for most people it remained a rare and exotic import from the distant West.

“Back then, only a handful of factory and school bands had saxophones. It looked and sounded incredible, so I worked hard to learn how to play,” Yin said, adding that a light music tape released in 1982 helped introduce the instrument to a wider audience in China.

Recorded by a Beijing-based orchestra, the tape featured the saxophone as the lead instrument, backed by drums and guitar. Its fresh, vibrant sound soon became a symbol of the country’s spirit of opening up.

In 1991, Yin joined the Art Ensemble of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions as a saxophonist. During performances across the country, he noticed audiences responding with growing enthusiasm, often erupting in applause during his saxophone solos.

“That’s when I decided to popularise the saxophone among the public because only with widespread affection can it truly thrive,” he said.

Going home

Over the next three decades, Yin’s life would closely mirror the saxophone’s growing popularity in China.

In 1993, he compiled China’s first saxophone grading exam textbook, laying the foundation for a standardised evaluation system. Thanks to Yin’s persistent advocacy, institutions like the Central Conservatory of Music began launching saxophone programs from 1997 onward, formally introducing the Western instrument into China’s higher music education.

“At first, many thought it lacked the foundation of traditional Chinese instruments among the people, but music knows no borders. A beautiful melody always resonates with listeners,” Yin said, noting that this was best illustrated by the nationwide saxophone craze ignited by the iconic piece Going Home.