Ren Guang

Ren Guang (Chinese: 任光; pinyin: Rén Guāng; November 9, 1900 in Zhejiang – January 1941), also known by a nom de plume, Ren Qianfa (任前发), was a noted Chinese composer of the early 20th century.

Ren studied in Paris beginning in 1919, and there acquired the techniques of music composition. As a consequence, his works are influenced by Western music, particularly in their harmonic accompaniment. Among his best-known compositions are Song of the Fishermen (渔光曲, Yú Guāng Qǔ) used as the theme song for a film of the same name, and Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon (彩云追月, Cǎi Yún Zhuī Yuè). He also invited the musician Huang Yijun to compose The Flowers are Blooming and the Moon is Full (花好月圆) which was included on a 1935 recording Ren Guang supervised.

He died in the Wannan Incident (also called the New Fourth Army Incident, during the Second Sino-Japanese War) in Wannan, southern Anhui, in January 1941.