Lu Yen (; 20 November 1930 – 1 October 2008) was a Chinese-born Taiwanese composer.
Yen was born in Nanjing, China, and was educated in National Taiwan Normal University, Mannes College, City University of New York, and University of Pennsylvania. He received Taiwan's in 1993 and 1998. As a pupil of William Jay Sydeman, Mario Davidovsky, George Rochberg and George Crumb, Lu was well known of his atonal writings combining counterpoint skills. George Rochberg commented that Lu's music "has a unique scent". Lu wrote in his article "My Artistic Journey" that he wished to write "music praising mother nature's great beauty and powers." During 1967–2008, Lu wrote 6 solo instrumental works, 70+ chamber ensemble works (excluding art songs), 5 Chinese chamber works, 16 orchestral works, 1 Chinese orchestra piece, and 11 art songs. Among these works, there was a repeated theme about the sound of bell, which Lu always remembered from his childhood in the Jiangnan region of China. Two biographies were published in Taiwan, Lu Yen: A Cold Fire of Music, written by Taiwanese poet Chen Li (陳黎) in 1997 and A Poetic Journey of Nostalgia, by Canadian-Taiwanese composer Shyh-ji Chew () and Taiwanese composer Janet Jieru Chen () in 2004, both published by Taiwan's China Times Publishing Co. Digitalization data of Lu's art song manuscripts and analytic entries are available at Nation Music Archive and Taiwan Music Center of the National Center for Traditional Arts, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lu died in Taipei, Taiwan. Soochow University (Taipei, Taiwan), where he taught music composition and counterpoint for 30 years, has a memorial room and a growing collection of Lu's manuscripts. Lu's music could be heard in albums published by Music Forum, International Society for Contemporary Music-Taiwan Section, Asian Composers League – Taiwanese Composers Association and National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.
Works
(title; instrumentation; year & place written)
Solo works
; Piano Solo; 1979, Philadelphia
Journey for 21-string Guzheng; Guzheng Solo; 1988, Lo-ye Street, Taipei
Solo Piece for Flute: Thoughts; Flute Solo; 1995, Hsin-dian, Taipei
Solo Piece for Cello: Song; Cello; 1997, Hsin-dian, Taipei
Piano Preludes: Romance, Bell; Piano; 1999, Dong-hu, Taipei
Impromptu for Piano; Piano; 2005, Dong-hu, Taipei
Chamber works
2 players (also refer to Art songs)
Sonata for Violin and Piano; Violin and Piano; 1971, New York
Oboe and Percussion; Oboe, Percussion; 1979, Philadelphia
; Flute, Piano; 1981–1982, Soochow University, Taipei
Percussion and Double Bass; 3 Percussionists and Double Bass; 1985, Lo-ye Street, Taipei Piece for Piano Four-Hand; Piano Four-hand; 1987, Fremont, CA, USA Inner Feelings; Baritone and Percussion; 1995, Hsin-dian, Taipei
3 players
Percussion Trio; 3 Percussionists; 1999, Dong-hu, Taipei
4 players
Quartet 1968; Flute, Piano, Bass Trombone or Tuba, Percussion; 1968, New York
Quartet 1970; Clarinet, Tuba and 2 Percussionists; 1970, New York
Quartet 1985 (Two Movements); Clarinet, Violin and Piano Duet; 1985, Lo-ye Street, Taipei String Quartet: A Flower on a Rainy Night; String Quartet; 1987, Lo-ye Street, Taipei String Quartet 2006; 2 Violins, Viola, Cello;2006, Dong-hu, Taipei