Academician Yuen-ren Chao (1892–1982), who served as the first head of the Department of Philology and research fellow of the IHP, was not only a linguist but also a composer who has composed more than one hundred songs. The Archives, IHP, has preserved an aluminum disc with recordings of “Ziwei” (“Self-Protection”) and “Changcheng yu yunhe” (“The Great Wall and the Great Canal”) by Chao with lyrics by Ma Zuwu (?–?). This disk, titled “All list," was recorded on March 12, 1937.
     In the 1930s, Chao created many songs for mass education, exemplified by the above two. The two songs are also included in Zhao Yuanren yinyue zuopin quanji (Complete Musical Works of Yuen Ren Chao), compiled by his eldest daughter, Academician Rulan Chao Pian (1922–2013).
     According to Zhao Yuanren nianpu (Chronology of the Life of Yuen Ren Chao), on March 12, 1937, Chao produced eight home recordings, including the above two songs. It is also mentioned that a Mr. Liu provided violin accompaniment, while IHP Research Fellow Shih-feng Yang (1905–1989) and Wu Zongji (1909–2010) assisted in the recording process.
We invite any interested parties to have a listen to a recording of "The Great Wall and the Great Canal."
 
For more, see Zhao Xinna and Huang Peiyun, eds., Chronology of the Life of Yuen Ren Chao (Beijing: Shangwu yinshuguan, 2001), p. 217; Rulan Chao Pian, ed., Complete Musical Works of Yuen Ren Chao (Shanghai: Shanghai yinyue chubanshe, 1987), pp. 153–155 (both in Chinese).