Zhang Lian-Chang Saxophone Museum Introduction
Play and Appreciation Guide ◼️ Saxophone Collection ◼️ Visit professional manufacturing processes and precision technology. The museum displays historical artifacts from Mr. Zhang Lian-chang and provides cultural tours, documenting the story of the saxophone in Taiwan and narrating the spirit of Mr. Zhang Lian-chang. It also treasures the saxophone created by inventor Adolphe Sax, which is 163 years old. In 2010, it was awarded the “Excellent Tourist Factory” title by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The factory’s professional manufacturing processes and precision technology attract numerous visitors from both domestic and international groups. Regular events include saxophone master lectures, performances by professional music groups, exhibitions, and academic seminars. "Zhang Lian-chang Saxophone" aims to transform a 65-year-old business into a century-old enterprise, continuously growing and developing to become a sustainable business that contributes to social development. Background of Family Growth: Mr. Zhang Lian-chang was born on December 10, 1913, as the fifth child in a farming family, residing in Houli District, Dajia. At the age of 21, he married Mrs. Hu and had two sons and four daughters. He initially worked as a draftsman and, to escape the Japanese military conscription, wandered abroad to perform. After Taiwan's retrocession, he began engaging in instrument manufacturing at the age of 32, creating Taiwan's first saxophone at 35, thereby initiating the legend of the saxophone hometown in Taiwan. Mr. Lian-chang passed away in January 1986 at the age of 73. Artistic Journey and Aesthetic Cultivation: From a young age, Mr. Zhang Lian-chang showed great interest and talent in the arts, fervently pursuing painting despite the societal expectations for males to engage in farming. At 13, he followed a master from Tangshan, Mainland China, living in Dajia, to study meticulous painting and mounting. He later went to Taipei for rigorous painting training and returned home to work in the field. These experiences deepened his aesthetic sensibility and also cultivated persistence and determination. Enjoying Music and Immersing in the World of Notes: In his youth, Mr. Zhang Lian-chang was skilled in calligraphy and had a passion for music. He learned to play the trumpet and saxophone from a local man known as "Black Indian," whose real name has been forgotten, and thus fell in love with instrument performance. In 1945, Mr. Lian-chang formed a Jazz Band with local music enthusiasts, and the orchestra, made up of members with a solid foundation in music theory and skilled performance techniques, created a sensation with their performances throughout the region. Subsequently, while manufacturing instruments, Mr. Lian-chang also taught apprentices in the factory to play instruments, with some apprentices pursuing professional performance studies under Mr. Zhang Ji-pan. With the launch of television stations, many musicians in local orchestras were from Houli, leading to the popular saying “Houli produces musicians.”
