Tuning into a hidden heritage
Valesby's music is also notable for its approach to chamber music, treating both the piano and the vocal line as equally important. Zhang believes her influence can be seen in the work of composers at music schools in Shanghai, particularly Huang Zi, who features on the album.
As one of China's first generation of fulltime professional composers, Huang's music, set to poems by famous Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasty poets, such as Li Bai and Su Shi, reflects the same blending of China and Europe that marks Valesby's work.
Zhang is passionate about bringing these forgotten songs back into the public eye. "It's like creating a bookshelf in the library for Valesby's work — not to force everyone to love them, but to ensure that people know they exist," he says. "Music history needs to honor these pieces for their artistic value. Even if they never become mainstream, they deserve to be preserved."
