Uploaded April 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
On March 19, 2019, Duke Divinity School hosted “Music & Martyrdom: Performing Faithfully,” an evening of music and conversation that reflected on the lives and legacies of martyrs. The first half of the evening centered on the world premiere of "Elegy," composed by Lu Pei in response to Duke Divinity Professor Lian Xi’s book "Blood Letters: the Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a Martyr in Mao’s China."
Commissioned by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts for Duke Divinity School and scored for flute, oboe, clarinet, and piano, "Elegy" commemorates the martyrdom of Lin Zhao (1932-1968), who gave her young life in pursuit of freedom, in defiance of a crushing autocracy. Lin Zhao’s youthful belief in communism gave way to dissidence, a hard imprisonment, and eventually to “a vision of God’s light” which enveloped her.In this piece, faith battles against the forces of evil. The music evokes the harshness that came with her imprisonment, as well as the divine mercy and redemption which sustained her.
The event was made possible through the generous support of the Office of the Vice Provost of the Arts—Duke Arts, and is co-sponsored by the Department of Music, the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and the Asian Pacific Studies Institute at Duke University.
On March 19, 2019, Duke Divinity School hosted “Music & Martyrdom: Performing Faithfully,” an evening of music and conversation that reflected on the lives and legacies of martyrs. The first half of the evening centered on the world premiere of "Elegy," composed by Lu Pei in response to Duke Divinity Professor Lian Xi’s book "Blood Letters: the Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a Martyr in Mao’s China."
Commissioned by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts for Duke Divinity School and scored for flute, oboe, clarinet, and piano, "Elegy" commemorates the martyrdom of Lin Zhao (1932-1968), who gave her young life in pursuit of freedom, in defiance of a crushing autocracy. Lin Zhao’s youthful belief in communism gave way to dissidence, a hard imprisonment, and eventually to “a vision of God’s light” which enveloped her.In this piece, faith battles against the forces of evil. The music evokes the harshness that came with her imprisonment, as well as the divine mercy and redemption which sustained her.
The event was made possible through the generous support of the Office of the Vice Provost of the Arts—Duke Arts, and is co-sponsored by the Department of Music, the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and the Asian Pacific Studies Institute at Duke University.
