Taiwanese cellist Fan Tsung-pei dies at 65

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) Award-winning cellist Fan Tsung-pei (范宗沛), 65, died of a myocardial infarction at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on Thursday.

Fan, known as the "genius of dubbing" (配樂鬼才) both in Taiwan and abroad, earned multiple Golden Melody, Golden Bell and Golden Horse Awards for his work in music and film.

A graduate of the National Taiwan Academy of Arts (now National Taiwan University of Arts), Fan served as lead cellist of the National Concert Hall Symphony Orchestra (now the National Symphony Orchestra) for nine years before leaving to focus on composing scores for TV programs and movies.

He won the Golden Horse Award for Best Original Film Score for Super Citizen Ko (超級大國民) in 1995.

He also received the Golden Melody Award for Best Pop Music Playing Album twice: for The Sound of Amorous (慾望的聲音, 1997) and Crystal Boys (孽子, 2004).

In addition, Fan won the Golden Bell Award three times.

WIND MUSIC founder Yang Chin-tsung (楊錦聰) posted on Facebook that for over 40 years, he and Fan had shared countless musical, culinary, and travel experiences.

"Each of my personal music journeys was backed with your melodies," he wrote.

Yang added that while Fan was regarded as a master by many, "to me, you were always the most warmhearted and humorous expert on how to enjoy life."

He concluded that though Fan has passed, "in the land of God, he will still passionately play his cello, with melodies that never fade away."