Wu Fei's Music Daily: Recent Episodes

Wu Fei 吴非

Fresh improvised and composed music from Wu Fei every day of the week.

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Thank you for being patient with me this past week. I was sick, but I’ve finally recovered :) Today’s solo guzheng improvisation was inspired by the Southern Magnolia I saw in China this summer. It was the biggest magnolia flower I had ever seen (photo above) — the blossom was larger than my palm, about the same size as a lotus flower. That’s why its Chinese name is 荷花玉兰 (lotus magnolia) or 广玉兰 (wide magnolia).

I wrote a poem for the flower:

广玉兰，翘盼舞伴，蜂情万种，红颜绽。

Southern magnolia, eagerly awaiting its dance partner — the bees, full of amorous affection — as its crimson beauty blooms.

Hope this piece brings you sweet dreams tonight.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

It would be amazing to play this newly composed piece at this exact spot — the 118th floor on the Shanghai Tower. The elevator was probably the fastest in the world — it took within 10 seconds to go from ground zero to this floor. I think that every musician would play something extraordinary once s/he gets here. That would be a heck of a concert!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s solo guzheng improvisation is for all the couples who may be going through difficult times. The Chinese title of this piece “美人虹” means “Beautiful Lady Rainbow.” It comes from a Chinese folklore documented in 《异苑》 (Yì Yuàn), a book of supernatural tales from the Southern Dynasties period, written by Liu Jingshu (刘敬叔) in the 5th century.

The exact text from Yì Yuàn is:

古语有之曰：古者有夫妻，荒年菜食而死，俱化成青绛，故俗呼美人虹。

(Translation: An old saying goes: In ancient times, there was a couple who, during a year of famine, ate wild vegetables and died. Together, they transformed into a blue-green (or colored) rainbow. Therefore, it is commonly called “Beautiful Lady Rainbow.”)

As soon as I started playing, a melody from a Mongolian folk song about white clouds and blue sky that I’ve known since I was a kid jumped into my head. The guzheng in the recording is a Jinyun (金韵) piece from Yangzhou, China.

Hope it brings you peace and joy into your day.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s three-track guzheng composition was recorded on all harmonics. During my visit to Yunnan, China last month, I saw many Buddhist temples. Every temple had the four heavenly kings 四大金刚 at the entrance. They are Dharma protector statues that guard the Buddhist temples. One of them holds a pipa (four-string or five-string lute, in the photo). He is my favorite guardian! Don’t judge a book by its cover. Today’s piece matches my favorite king just perfectly.

Wish you all a fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today is the beginning of a new week. I would like to share this new piece called Dali. It was inspired by my memory of driving with my family next to Erhai Lake in Dali City, Yunnan Province, China. Erhai 洱海 is a lake that feels like an ocean. It is situated at 1,972 meters (6,470 ft) above sea level.

There is a famous folklore about the lake: a princess of the Nanzhao Kingdom married a young man who had to go fight a war. A decade later, rumors of his death reached the princess. Her tears pooled together to form the vast, crystalline waters of Erhai Lake. At last, her husband returned from battle with victory after she passed away. He swore a solemn oath to remain by her side forever. And then, he transformed into the Cangshan Mountain, which still rises next to the lake today. The mountain and the lake stand as guardians of one another. It has become a symbol of unwavering love and devotion.

Wu Fei 吴非

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The guzheng in the recording is called Light Year 光年, made by Jinyun Guzheng Company 金韵古筝 in Yangzhou, China.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s guzheng composition is inspired by my visit to Yangzhou, China, last month. Every morning, I took quiet walks along Slender West Lake, absorbing the city’s elegant landscape and rich history. I felt like I was living inside a painting—every direction I turned offered another view.

Yangzhou is considered the birthplace of the Grand Canal. In 486 BC, King Fuchai of the State of Wu dug the Han Gou (邗沟) near Yangzhou to transport troops and grain. This is recognized as the “first spade” of the Grand Canal, marking the start of its 2,500-year history. If you are interested in this part of the history, the Grand Canal Museum is well worth a visit.

Sitting next to a cluster of lotus flowers (pictured above) reminded me of a poem called A Small Pond by Yang Wanli (1127–1206 AD, Southern Song Dynasty):

“The spring’s silent outflow trickles thin and slow;

The trees cast shade on the water, loving the sun’s gentle glow.

A tiny lotus bud has just shown its pointed peak—

A dragonfly has already landed there, as if to seek.”

(Translated by Totran Nguyen)

宋代诗人杨万里的七言绝句《小池》

“泉眼无声惜细流，树阴照水爱晴柔。

小荷才露尖尖角，早有蜻蜓立上头。”

As Yangzhou is known as the Home of Guzheng, the guzheng I played in this recording comes from the renowned Yangzhou-based manufacturer, Jinyun Guzheng Company. In the next posts, I’ll share with you about their food 😋

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

How have you all been? Hope you are all having a restful and fun summer or winter!

I’m back home in Nashville now after my time in China. It was an amazing trip traveling through several provinces. The absolute highlight was visiting the Jinyun 金韵乐器 Guzheng company in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. Jinyun is one of the most prominent and respected guzheng manufacturers in the industry in China. Mr. Xiong Liqun 熊立群, the founder, gave me a personal tour of the workshops (photo above). It was my first time seeing in person how guzhengs are made—utterly fascinating! After playing several guzhengs for an entire day, I chose one called 光年 - Light Year to bring home with me. Today’s piece was recorded on my Light Year guzheng. The sound is incredible. I didn’t use any mixing or sound editing for this recording—you hear everything completely naturally. It sounds even better live. The resonance it creates is enchanting. Hope it brings a moment of peace to you.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer (or winter)! This composition is my last one until the end of June. I will be traveling with family to China for the summer holidays. It’ll be my children’s first time returning to their birth city, Beijing, since they were atoddler and an infant when we moved to the U.S. in 2015. We are all very excited about seeing old friends, meeting new friends, visiting family members, and of course—eating all the amazing food!

If you are on Substack, I will be sharing part of my trip on Substack Notes, especially short music videos that I will be making in China.

Thank you so much for your patience and support again! Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy. See you in July!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I just recorded this Guzheng improvisation in my Nashville studio. It’s nearly 10pm here. Sometimes night time is perfect to clear my brain and unleash the stress from the daytime. Tonight was the night. I’m a big fan of music from India, the Middle East and Central Asia, especially their string instruments and the structure of their compositions. This improvisation is very much inspired by their shared ways of phrasing and breathing—in flowing the music out in one take. It is utterly satisfying to play like this - 太过瘾了。

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This new composition was composed and recorded today. I was inspired by the Great Spangled Fritillary resting on the Haas Halo blossom by the creek in the forest in Nashville (photo above). I paused and enjoyed the beauty of these two creatures’ intimate moment. It reminded me of this poem by Su Shi (1037–1101 AD):

苏轼《蝶恋花·记得画屏初会遇》

记得画屏初会遇。

好梦惊回，望断高唐路。

燕子双飞来又去，纱窗几度春光暮。

那日绣帘相见处，

低眼佯行，笑整香云缕。

敛尽春山羞不语，人前深意难轻诉。

(English Translation)

Remember our first encounter by the painted screen —

A lovely dream, but waking cut it clean,

And left me staring where the goddess once had been.

Pairs of swallows come and go,

Spring after spring wanes through the window screen.

That day when by the embroidered drapes we met,

You dropped your eyes and walked with feigned neglect,

Then smiled and smoothed your fragrant hair.

Your brows were knit, too shy for words to speak;

In public, how could deep affection dare declare?

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng piece today while it was raining outside in Nashville. It was inspired by the white Haas Halo blooms wild in the west Nashville forest (photo above by me). It fascinates me that the lace-capped blooms and the white flowers are one plant. Each white “petal” is actually a sepal. They look elegant yet can stand through rain, holding droplets like tiny glass bells. I have seen a similar kind of flower in purple-pink on the Atlantic coast of the Basque Country in Spain. How amazing that these cousin plants are completely identical even though they’re separated by a vast ocean. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Hope you all had a restful weekend. Late spring and early summer is among my favorite times in Nashville. The bugs are not fully out yet. Wild fruits are starting to show up in the forest. I ate one wild blackberry on the hill today (photo above). It was still sour, though I loved the strong flavor that only wild fruit can give to your taste buds. It instantly woke me up from a somewhat sleepy head. The wild blackberry reminds me of a poem from the Northern Song Dynasty in China (1002-1060 CE):

《舟中行自采枸杞子》宋 · 梅尧臣

野岸竟多杞，小实霜且丹。系舟聊以掇，粲粲忽盈盘。助吾苦羸苶，岂必采琅玕。自异骄华人，百金求秘丸。昔闻王子乔，上帝降玉棺。

English Translation“Picking Wolfberries from the Boat”by Mei Yaochen (Song Dynasty)

Along the wild bank grow many wolfberry shrubs,Their small fruits, touched by frost, turn a brilliant red.

I tie my boat and pause to gather them,Soon bright and gleaming, they fill my plate.

They ease my weary, weakened state—Why must I seek the pearl-tree of the immortals?

I am not like those who flaunt their wealth,Spending a hundred gold on secret elixirs.

In ancient times, I heard of Prince Wangzi Qiao—Heaven itself, they say, sent down a jade coffin for him.”

Hope this guzheng night song start your week with a joyful moment.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This instrument is the valiha — a tube zither from Madagascar 🇲🇬

I’ve never quite figured out how to hold it comfortably. As a guzheng (古筝) musician and pianist, I’m used to having my fingers free while playing.

Today, I finally found a way to play the valiha without having to hold it with my hands.

With the birds chirping and my neighbor cutting the lawn in the background in Nashville, I improvised this little song. Keeping my eyes closed while playing liberated my mind — my heart felt closer to my fingers, and I could truly feel the sensation between my fingertips and the thin metal strings, as well as the sound vibrations from the bamboo body against my forehead.

A little background on how these valihas came to me:

They are gifts from my dear friend Professor Tasha Rijke-Epstein. She teaches history at Vanderbilt University, and her main research field is Madagascar history and culture. When she found out that I’m a composer, musician, and string player, she showed me her valiha — which had been sitting in her house for many years, unplayed. I immediately started playing and making songs on it. She wanted me to have it right away. Then she brought me another one from her work trip to Madagascar.

There is an author named Raharimanana Jean Luc from Madagascar (Tasha’s colleague) who has released a new book called Return (link here). Jean Luc is also a valiha master.

@uklelebob1 on Substack sent me this video of a master musician from Madagascar playing three different valihas anbd singing to it. Very inspiring:Watch here

Watching this valiha musician gives me so many ideas about what’s possible — plucking techniques, patterns and styles, and new tunings. I also learned that the valiha is a cousin to the Sasando (from Indonesia); both are Austronesian bamboo tube zithers, connected across two sides of the Indian Ocean.

I’ve been fascinated by the world’s string instruments, their history, and their connections. It’s such a fun way to learn history and get closer to the truth. Knowing how many beautiful things humans have invented that have helped each other through countless difficult times — it really makes me feel hopeful that we, humans, can make something beautiful that will outlast the ugliness with time. 😃

I want to share my appreciation to all the paid and free subscribers! The very recent ones and the ones who’ve been with me from May 2020 when I started my first substack post! Thank YOU!!!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I just did a guzheng improvisation. I was inspired by a small hatched egg I found on my driveway a few days ago (photo above.) While I was improvising, I was wondering what happened to the chick - did the parent bird take it away to hide it? Did the chick leave on its own? Or did a predator break the egg and eat the chick?

Hope this piece brings a moment of joy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This two-track prepared guzheng night song was recorded today. Last month, I played two concerts at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee in the U.S. It was my third time playing at this amazing festival. Photographer Cora Wagoner took my photos when I debuted at this festival in 2017. Her photos have remained some of my favorite moments in my solo career. I was lucky enough to have her take photos again last month, nine years later. I will share more of her beautiful work in my future posts.

Prepared guzheng is an experimental technique where objects such as shells, ceramics, or tools are placed on or between the strings to alter the instrument’s timbre, creating unique, percussive, or metallic sounds. In this piece, I clipped metal keychain rings to the strings. This technique is inspired by John Cage’s prepared piano and is used to expand the instrument’s range of sounds.

Hope this track brings you sweet dreams tonight.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Improvising on a mini valiha, a tube zither from Madagascar. A full size valiha is twice as long. This little one is a gift from my mother-in-law :) Playing the valiha makes me miss Africa.

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today, I recorded a guzheng solo improvisation inspired by the wild pink azalea in the forest near my home in Nashville. They look innocently beautiful and smell incredible — but here’s the twist: the wild pink azalea is highly toxic to humans and animals, including the honey made from its flowers. This “mad honey” can cause poisoning if consumed. So, as lovely as they are, it’s only safe to admire them from a distance :)

Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today, I recorded another piece for valiha and voice—an improvisation. In the past, I’ve talked a bit about the valiha’s history: it’s a tube zither from Madagascar, made from a species of local bamboo, and is considered the country’s national instrument.

Recently, I came across a theory that the valiha may have been “inherited from King David,” as part of a larger origin narrative about the Jewish provenance of the Malagasy people. There’s a lot of reading out there on this cultural and historical connection. I love how much I’ve learned about humanity simply through my passion for instruments from around the world.

It’s much easier to rewrite / alter history with words than to change how to make an instrument. So much truth from human history is carried within musical instruments that often don’t align with written or oral history.

Hope this piece brings you sweet dreams!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed this three-voice guzheng canon. I was inspired by the memory when my ferry passed by the Waitematā Harbor in Auckland, New Zealand ten days ago. These giant metal crane arms looked like three singers to me. The ocean is their concert hall. The reflection is their song.

The word canon in a contrapuntal compositional technique where a melody (the "leader") is imitated by one or more voices (the "follower") after a given duration. It is a strict form of composition where the second part mimics the first, sometimes at different intervals, creating a layered, interwoven sound. In 14th and 15th century Europe, canon was very popular. Later, composers started to develop non-strict canon, such as mirror canon, table canon, double canon, rhythmic canon, proportional canon, inversion canon etc.. The list keeps on going. What a fascinating world of canons :) Hope this piece brings you a joyful moment!

Wu Fei 吴非

Check out my Bandcamp: Wufeimusic.bandcamp.com for purchases:

My albums are available on Bandcamp:

A Distant Youth (recorded in Parma and Venice, Italy and Oakland, California)

featuring Fred Frith 🇬🇧 (acoustic & electric guitars),

Carla Kilhlstedt 🇺🇸 (violin),

Helge A. Norbakken 🇳🇴 (percussion)

Pluck (recorded in Brooklyn, NY)

Wu Fei and Gyan Riley (classical guitar)

Thank you for your support!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

How have you been?

I’ve just returned home to the U.S. after visiting my family in New Zealand. Thank you for your patience and understanding during my absence — I needed that time to focus on being with my loved ones. The vast ocean has never made our reunions easy, so this trip meant the world to me.

On the day I left Auckland, it was my parent-in-laws’ 60th wedding anniversary. I’m so happy that I got to play music for them and their close friends while I was there.

Today’s guzheng piece is called “The Five‑Ring Love.”

In Chinese culture, every twelve years is one lún (轮) — a cycle. Sixty years make five lún.

Sixty years ago, they married in a Fire Horse year — fierce and bright. Now, in another Fire Horse year, their love is as deep as ever.

I named this piece “Five‑Ring Love” because their sixty years together are like five perfect cycles of twelve — five rounds of the zodiac, five laps around the sun’s great calendar.

And just as the Olympic rings stand for endurance, excellence, and unity, they too are champions of a lifetime walked side by side.

The Chinese title of this piece is “在地愿为连理枝.”

在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝。

Direct translation:

In heaven, we wish to be two birds flying wing to wing;

on earth, two trees with branches intertwined from one root.

This couplet comes from the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi (白居易, 772–846 CE). He wrote his most famous poem, “Song of Everlasting Sorrow” (长恨歌), in 806 CE.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

How are you doing, my dear subscribers? Thank you all for your patience and support! I hope you all had a restful and fun weekend!

I’ve returned from playing at the Big Ears Music Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. I had a wonderful time presenting two different concerts during the festival. The photo above is from my first concert — Wu Fei and Shanir Blumenkranz. The second concert, in the photo below, was at the First Presbyterian Sanctuary—photo by an audience member who sent it to me from Instagram. Both cathedrals had amazing acoustics, and I felt transcended to a different time and space while playing. Both concerts were full house, and I received standing ovations at the end. It was incredible. I always prefer not to use any amplification when I play in venues like these. When I am transformed sonically into a different being, I create something new.

At the beginning of my solo concert, I spotted my teacher from Mills College, Fred Frith, sitting in the audience. (Fred gave two performances too at this year’s Big Ears Festival.) That he chose my concert out of two hundred performances throughout the four-day festival meant the world to me. Without Fred’s guidance when I was a young composer, I wouldn’t have the career I have today. I got emotional on stage and started tearing up, wanting to give Fred a deep bow and a big hug. I also saw David Byrne (of Talking Heads) sitting in the audience. I was surprised and in awe. I remember when I played Big Ears for the first time in 2017—now, to my third time playing this festival a few days ago—I have grown so much and gained so many experiences. Yet the excitement of sharing my newest material with the audience has never changed. I’m sure I’ll be back to this festival with many more new projects that are in the making.

I hope today’s new guzheng piece takes you to a new place too.

As this newsletter is being sent to you, I’m also getting ready for my next journey leaving tomorrow —New Zealand. I’ve been missing my family members in the South Pacific. I’ll continue sharing my daily music on Substack’s Notes app since I won’t be bringing my recording gear this time. I’ll be sharing both audio and video with you all on Substack Notes. My regular newsletter will resume after April 14.

See you all soon on Substack Notes from New Zealand!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Friends who are coming to Big Ears this year,

I’m playing two concerts at Big Ears Festival 2026 Knoxville, TN

• March 27 Friday 5:30PM

St. John Cathedral

WU FEI + SHANIR EZRA BLUMENKRANZ (oud/gimbri /double bass)

• March 28 Saturday 5:45PM

First Presbyterian Sanctuary

WU FEI’S MOON HUNTER (SOLO)

Some day passes are still available though weekend passes are sold out.

Passes: bigearsfestival.org

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Three days ago, after the tornado passed through Nashville, the temperature dropped below zero again. Our crabapple tree had just started blossoming before it hit. I was worried whether the blossoms would be blown off completely by the extreme winds. Then, when the temperature dropped, I worried again that the blossoms would not come out as they did last year because it was too cold. They survived!

Speaking of survival and new growth, I have some personal news to share. I’ll be a guest on Nashville Public Radio (WPLN) at:

10am (U.S. Eastern Time), 11am (Central Time), 12pm (Mountain Time) and 1pm (Pacific Time) this Friday, March 20, on their flagship show, This is Nashville .

For those of you unfamiliar with the program, This Is Nashville is a live one-hour daily show driven by community, for community. It’s become a one-stop-shop for news in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, and I’m honored to be part of the conversation this week.

You can tune in live at 90.3 FM, online at wpln.org, or catch the episode on their YouTube live stream channel. If you’re on social media, you can follow them on Instagram: @thisisnashville_wpln for updates.

Hope this guzheng night song brings you joy—and maybe I’ll see some of you on the radio this Friday. 🎙️🌸

Listen / Watch:

📻 90.3 WPLN | 🌐 wpln.org | 📺 YouTube @wpln | Instagram @thisisnashville_wpln

🔗 https://wpln.org/shows-and-podcasts/this-is-nashville/

Podcast: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1083459707/this-is-nashville

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed and recorded this multi-track guzheng piece today. Last night, I stayed on the Nashville Severe Weather YouTube channel for two hours, watching their live stream of a tornado watch. It’s stormy weather once more in Nashville. A few years ago, my family and I hid in our tornado shelter closet in the middle of the night with helmets on. It was scary. Last night, my nervous system was on high alert again. This time, we got lucky! The forest is peaceful again. Hope you all are safe wherever you are!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I am super excited to share with you that I am returning to the Big Ears Festival 2026, Knoxville, Tennessee! All the early-bird four-day passes have been sold out. However, there are still other types of passes are available. More pass info is here.

Concert 1: March 27, 5:30pm at St. John Cathedral

Wu Fei and Shanir Blumenkranz

Wu Fei and Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz are living proof of the magic that happens when seemingly disparate worlds collide—finding exhilarating chemistry in the space between. Fei, a Beijing-born, Nashville-based master of the guzheng, first made her mark two decades ago in New York’s improvisational scene, not only through her command of the ancient instrument but through her gift for using it as a springboard for modern composition. Blumenkranz, a Brooklyn-born, Boston-educated bassist and oud player, became equally vital to that same downtown world, collaborating extensively with John Zorn and figures like Jon Madof, Cyro Baptista, and Jamie Saft. Their paths converged in 2019, when Blumenkranz became an essential part of Fei’s symphony Hello Gold Mountain, a work commemorating Jewish refugees who found shelter in China during WWII. In the years since, the duo has slowly built a shared language—one heard to riveting effect during a 2024 set at Lincoln Center. On “Mountain Ivy,” Fei’s impressionistic guzheng patterns intertwined with Blumenkranz’s double bass, which bounded between percussive weight and gnarled bow scrapes as her voice rose in reply. Elsewhere, his oud traced dizzying lines against her strings, creating patterns like light fractured through crystal. Both are singular players on their own. Together, they are staggering.

Info: https://bigearsfestival.org/event/wu-fei-with-shanir-blumenkranz/

Concert 2: March 28, 5:45pm at First Presbyterian Sanctuary

Wu Fei’s Moon Hunter

Wu Fei is one of the most generous working musicians in the world, a master of the guzheng who not only updates the ancient Chinese instrument’s repertoire but also shares its story and sound with as many people as possible. To wit, when Covid-19 hamstrung all global touring in 2020, Fei launched an email newsletter, Music Daily; five years later, long after so many pandemic projects have faded, she is more than 1,200 entries deep, using the platform to offer new songs, improvisations, and interpretations of Chinese and American standards. That practice comports with her long-open approach to the instrument, whether it’s recording an album with Abigail Washburn, improvising with Fred Frith, or performing with oud master Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, as she will also do at Big Ears 2026.

Info: https://bigearsfestival.org/event/wu-feis-moon-hunter/

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Wu Fei 吴非

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Friends,

If you’re feeling stressed out or tired, I hope this guzheng night song improvisation brings you a moment of calm, even if only temporary. I recorded it yesterday, thinking of the setar (photo below), a traditional Iranian string instrument. The two setars belong to Reza Filsoofi, an Iranian American musician. He recently joined me on stage during my Lunar New Year concert in Nashville, bringing both setars to the rehearsal—each tuned to a different key.

The Setar is a key instrument in Persian classical music tracing back more than 1,000 years. I learned that Persians named their lutes around the word tār, meaning string, combining it with a word for the number of strings. Du + tār is the two-stringed dutār; se + tār is the three-stringed setār; and then there’s čārtār (four strings), pančtār (five strings). And guess where the word guitar comes from? :)

The modern Iranian instrument’s name, سه‌تار (setâr), is a combination of se—meaning “three”—and târ—meaning “string.” So the name itself means “three-stringed” or “tri-stringed.”

Despite the name suggesting three strings, the modern instrument actually has four (like Reza’s setars), with the extra string added in the 19th century. However, the strings are grouped in such a way that musicians still approach them as three courses, rather than four individually played strings.

The sound of the guzheng and setar together is simply magical. I’ll share an audio clip of the piece Reza and I performed together in the near future.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy new year of the horse! 马年吉祥！

It’s taken a village to make my new year concert happen on February 15th. It was a full house! I want to thank:

Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music:

Professors : Isi Miranda, Robbie Fry, Nathan Cheung, Ryan Middagh

Guest artists:

Reza Filsoofi, Larissa Maestro, Heather Moulder, Erik Shapnack,

Nate Spratford, Miles Buchmann, Lucas Giordano

Community partners:

The Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville
API Middle Tennessee

My family and all the friends and audience 🙏 I felt like I was at my wedding surrounded by love ❤️

Today’s 4-track prepared guzheng piece was inspired by the dumplings made by my parents last night. It is a tradition for us to eat homemade dumplings on the first day of the new year! Wish you all a peaceful, healthy and prosperous new year!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, evening,

I am floored by the letterpress design by Filipino American artist Heather Moulder. She made the concert poster for my upcoming concert this Sunday. Today’s four-track guzheng piece was inspired by her work (photo below). Her website is: https://www.lordymercy.com/

On Sunday, Heather will be onsite in the lobby of Ingram Hall to give out posters, and she’ll have about 80 incomplete copies for folks to try their hand at printing. I’m deeply moved by the tremendous support from my beloved Nashville artists and friends community. Can’t wait to celebrate them this weekend!

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Wu Fei Moon Hunter - Lunar New Year Concert

Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music, Ingram Hall

• 2pm – Lobby opens for a Lunar New Year celebration with cultural exhibits and activity booths, and Chinese drumming by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville.

• 3pm – Concert begins

Guest artists:

• Larissa Maestro (cello)

• Reza Filsoofi (Persian setar & daf drum)

• Nate Spratford (saxophone)

• Lucas Giordano (double bass)

• Miles Buchmann (drums)

• Dr. Nathan Cheung (piano)

• Erik Sharpnack (film visuals)

• Heather Moulder (graphic design)

Tickets are going fast. Reserve yours to secure seats: https://blair.vanderbilt.edu/2026/02/10/music

2400 Blakemore Ave., Nashville

– Free parking in the Vanderbilt West Garage on Children’s Way.

This concert is presented by the Blair School of Music Unbound Artist Residency and supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Curb Center, and the Peter & Lois Fyfe Fund.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I had a rehearsal with talented friends Reza Filsoofi (Persian setar) & Larissa Maestro (cello) both Nashville based.

Little Tree is composed by me. It’s my first time to do this trio version. I’m so excited! So many trees fell and broke down during the recent ice storm in Nashville. It feels like so many of our beloved friends are forever gone…Join us in the concert if you are in town. I’m so grateful for having these beautiful musicians playing with me. Date/time: February 15th, 3pm

Venue: Ingram Hall Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music

Address: 2400 Blakemore Ave, Nashville, TN 37212Admission is free, thanks to support from the Tennessee Arts Commission.The Ingram Hall lobby will open at 2:00 p.m. for a Lunar New Year celebration featuring cultural exhibits and activity booths—including Chinese Drumming by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville.Concert info + reserve ticket link:https://events.vanderbilt.edu/event/93478-guest-artist-moon-hunter-wu-fei-guzheng

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today, I finally resumed my daily practice and recording after the two-week disruption from Nashville’s ice storm. This solo guzheng piece is inspired by two pictures of the same pair of pine trees in my front yard—one taken during the storm, the trees broken and shrouded in ice and snow, and another from today, sunny and restored to normal. The air is full of the fragrance of the broken pine branches. In playing, I felt a deep appreciation for being home again, and for the quiet reminder of how insignificant we humans are compared to nature. It amazes me how tough those pines are, still standing there solidly, growing again beneath the same sun.

If you are in Nashville or have friends in Nashville, I am playing a concert to celebrate the Lunisolar New Year of the Fire Horse this Sunday, February 15 at 3pm, Ingram Hall in Vanderbilt University.

Concert and tickets info is available here . After the ice storm, we all need some fire horse energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Friends in Nashville,

My concert Moon Hunter will be held at Ingram Hall at Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music on Sunday, February 15th, at 3 p.m.

Admission is free, thanks to support from the Tennessee Arts Commission.

The Ingram Hall lobby will open at 2:00 p.m. for a Lunar New Year celebration featuring cultural exhibits and activity booths—including Chinese Drumming by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville.

This concert is part of Blair’s Music Unbound Artist Residency and celebrates the upcoming Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse. I’ll present traditional Chinese music ranging from instrumental works and folk operas to my original compositions. In the second half, local artists will join me on stage for collaborations featuring Persian setar and drum, cello, Blair Jazz performers, and visual components to create a cinematic effect on several songs.

Concert info and the ticket link are here:

https://events.vanderbilt.edu/event/93478-guest-artist-moon-hunter-wu-fei-guzheng

Hope to see you there!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today, I had a wonderful meeting with a dear friend and musicologist, Professor Isidoira Miranda of Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, and the production team at Ingram Hall to prepare for my upcoming concert on February 15th.

I also got to watch the jazz students’ rehearsal led by Professor Ryan Middagh, the director of Jazz Studies at Blair. They will be joining me for a couple of songs. I can’t imagine a better way to welcome in the Lunar New Year—the Year of the Fire Horse, 2026—with my talented Nashville homies!

The concert info and ticket link is here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this Chinese folk song today. It’s called “Thirty-mile Village” (三十里铺) from Shaanxi province—a well-known love song in China. I’ve known it since elementary school. My parents used to sing it a lot at home, and my father would change the lyrics to sound funny. We laughed so much whenever everyone sang together in our house. I’ve always thought the world would be a much nicer place if we all communicated through singing :) Imagine arguing through singing. That must be really funny!

In this recording, I stood my Guzheng up and sang into the sound hole in the back. You can hear the long harmonic reverb created by the vibration of my voice resonating through the wooden body (see photo below). If you have an acoustic instrument at home—a piano, guitar, cello, violin, or anything with soundholes or open strings—try singing into the holes or near the strings. You’ll hear harmonics of the pitches bouncing back. It’s very therapeutic for the brain to receive those sound waves.

Translation of the lyrics:

Mention my hometown, its name is knownMy home is in Suide, Thirty-Mile Village townFourth Sister loves her Third Brother dearHe is the one who holds my heart so nearThrough Thirty-Mile Village the broad road runsThe theater’s torn down, a new highway comesThird Brother is now just nineteen years oldOur days together have not yet grown coldThird Brother is now just nineteen years oldFourth Sister is only sixteen, I’m toldEveryone says we’re a match made aboveWhy leave me halfway, my dearest love?

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this two-track piece for prepared guzheng today, thinking of my hike next to a frozen creek this morning. I tapped my fingers on the ice: some parts sounded like a deep drum, others like gongs. I can imagine playing this piece with other string players, percussionists, and electronic musicians at Colorado’s Red Rock Amphitheater under the Milky Way—for hours and hours.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I have returned to my quiet Nashville home from a whirlwind and productive trip to New York City, where I gave a showcase performance two days ago. My guzheng made me feel grounded even from the 25th floor up in the air during my stay in the heart of Times Square (photo below). I got to see old friends and made new friends during the APAP conference for the performing arts industry. I am very grateful to my management, Halac Artists, for making it happen.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s solo guzheng piece is a tribute to my first solfège and ear training teacher—Professor Sun Hong (孙虹). She passed away yesterday in Beijing at the age of 90.

When I was five, I began attending the weekend solfège and ear training program at the China Conservatory of Music. I was placed in Professor Sun’s class, where I remained for the next six years, throughout my entire elementary school education.

Professor Sun taught many prominent individuals who have since become influential professors, educators, composers and musicians in China and around the world. The last time I saw her was in a pavilion by the lake in Beihai Park - an imperial park in Beijing. We were both there to learn Kunqu opera (about 600 years old history) from a master who held singing gatherings in that beautiful setting. Even as a senior, Professor Sun was still seeking to deepen her knowledge, hoping to incorporate traditional music into modern pedagogy rooted in our own heritage and ways of listening, playing, and singing. Her lifelong dedication to improving music education inspired me deeply.

I am so grateful that such an extraordinary educator introduced me to the world of music. Though I was too young to remember the specific details of our lessons, I can only imagine the profound impact and foundation she built for me. To this day, I have kept all the text books that were from Prof. Sun’s class. They are in my music studio in Nashville, with her hand writings on them marking homework for me.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy New Year!

I am super excited to kick off 2026 showcasing my music at APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals) in New York City on Jan 10th, Saturday evening.

If you are in Nashville, I will be giving a concert in Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music on February 15, Sunday as part of the Music Unbound Artist Residency to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse! Concert details and tickets are available here.

March 27-28, I will return to the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee to play two concerts. It has a brilliant lineup for this year, and I am honored to be among the artists! Four-day passes have been SOLD OUT. Click here for single pass.

More concerts and tours will be announced soon in the coming weeks.

Thank you all for supporting me! My deepest gratitude goes to my family, my friends, my fans, and especially my management Halac Artists for believing in me and opening many doors for me around the world.

Wish you all a healthy and peaceful year ahead! 新年快乐, 大展宏图 🎉

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I just read a post on social media before I recorded this three-track guzheng piece today:

“Asked the guy on the airplane if he’d switch seats since I was flying with my family. He refused. So I had to sit with my family.” -buechlersteven on Thread.

Hope this song brings you calmness from all the stress you’ve been through during the holiday season.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today is the last day of Hanukkah. All the candles are lit up like in the photo below. Wishing you all a peaceful and healthy year. Peace and health are the foundation of a good life. Hope this three-track guzheng night song takes you to a peaceful place tonight.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

First of all, thank you all for another year of supporting my music! It’s not the end of the year yet, but I just want to share my gratitude to you - old listeners from the beginning of my Substack (started in May 2020) and new paid supporters today. Sometimes when we feel powerless towards the world’s craziness, music can be medicine for our heart. I hope my music daily can be a place where you can rest your heart for a moment from whatever the darkness you are experiencing.

This two-track prepared guzheng composition was composed and recorded today. The four keychain rings (photo below) took my mind away to a joyful place.

Secondly, to my Nashville homies, I’m super excited to share that I have a concert coming up!

Feb. 15th, 2026, Sunday 3pm, Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music in Vanderbilt University

Details and tickets are available here on Vanderbilt University’s website. The concert is free of admission. However, please reserve your tickets through the link on the event page to ensure your seating.

The Ingram Hall lobby will open at 2:00 p.m. for a Lunar New Year celebration with cultural exhibits and activity booths, including Chinese Drumming by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville (CAAN). The performance will begin at 3:00 p.m. We invite all guests to arrive at 2:00 p.m. for the complete event experience. The Year of the Horse is coming! Hope to see you at Vanderbilt!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I’ve missed you all. Last week’s concert at Bellevue College was wonderful! I’m especially grateful for the hospitality of Professor Naeim Rahmani, who leads the college’s International Guitar Series. Before I arrived, he arranged for a beautiful guzheng from the Seattle Guzheng Studio to be delivered to my hotel room so I could have plenty of time to warm up. To close the concert, I had the pleasure of performing with the Bellevue College String Ensemble under Professor Rahmani’s direction—joined by musicians from Iran, Thailand, Congo, the U.S., and China. Here are some photos from that special collaboration.

For today’s piece, I originally planned to name it after the frost flowers (see photo below) that I saw on a hike near my home in Nashville. But just as I finished recording the last track—while waiting to press stop in the recording app—I heard footsteps outside the window. I ended up having to re-record the whole track >_<

So, I’ve changed the title to “Person from Porlock.” If you’re in the northeastern U.S., I hope it gives you a little high-energy boost to fight off the cold!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

In today’s solo guzheng improvisation, I focused on using the traditional bending technique with my left hand. Bending the strings on the left side of the bridges is a signature sound in much of the classic guzheng repertoire. When these bent pitches form melodies, they sounds like many local Chinese dialects to my ears. There are old stories held within the resonance of each bent note.

Soon, I’ll be traveling to Seattle to perform at the Bellevue College International Guitar Series. I’m honored that this concert has been featured by Seattle’s legendary Earshot Jazz (photo below)—especially since I’m the only non-guitarist in this year’s series. That said, guzheng players actually share a lot with guitarists when it comes to plucking the strings. I’ve often found myself deep in nerdy conversations with guitarists around the world about picks, strings, and plucking techniques :)

If you and your friends are in greater Seattle area, hope to see you at my concert on Dec.10 at 7:30pm at the Carlson Theatre in Bellevue College! Details and tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bcguitarseries/1829326

My music newsletter will resume later this week when I’m back home. Thank you for your support and patience!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I had fun making my first multi-window and multi-track video today! I’m not sure if it was luck, but the audio from the different tracks actually matched up. I did listen to the metronome click from GarageBand through my headphones, though it’s not always guaranteed that everything will line up perfectly. I just went with the flow and followed the click as closely as I could—though sometimes, when the click faded, I had to count silently in my head.

This was really exciting for me, especially since I wasn’t sure how well the technology would work out.

By the way, the bandana on the guzheng (lower register) is to mute the strings so that there was less resonance.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This two-track guzheng piece begins with the sound of birds chirping in the forest. It has been a peaceful Thanksgiving holiday for me. I hope yours hasn’t been too stressful if you had to travel. Getting from place to place has become less pleasant with more flight delays and cancellations.

I walked up the hill near my home in Nashville. The view of downtown (photo below) looks to me like a sheet music in the sky to me — a notation for a song that could only be composed this way at this time of a year.

If you are still on your way home, I hope this piece brings you calmness.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Friends in Seattle,

Hope to see y’all at my concert!

Wu Fei, Guzheng

Bellevue College International Guitar Series

Wed., Dec. 10, 2025 7:30 p.m. , Carlson Theatre

Featuring: Bellevue College Guitar Ensemble

Composer-in-residence: Tom Baker World Premiere: Shendo by Tom Baker

Details and tickets:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bcguitarseries/1829326

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this double-guzheng improvisation today thinking of my children threatening to eat each other’s sesame treats.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I took a walk on the hills of West Nashville today. Leaves were blowing off the trees and dancing in the wind. It made me want to write music. Hope this multitrack high energy guzheng piece brings you some autumn attitude.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I was inspired by a legendary jazz drummer and a new, dear friend I made this year—the maestro, Myron Cohen. I met him in California this summer, and he is such a fun and energetic musician. I have no idea how old he is. I’d guess he’s in his late 70s. Yet, he plays the drums with the energy of a 15-year-old. I hope I’m like that when I’m his age!

Here’s a bit about him from All About Jazz:

“Jazz drummer Myron Cohen lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, Calif., where he’s played with such luminaries as Michael Bloomfield, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Otis Spann, Ron Stallings, Azar Lawrence, Ravi Coltrane, Donald ‘Rafael’ Garrett, Woody Shaw, and Wayne Shorter—to name a few.

Whether in sessions, live performances, recordings, or just informal jams, these musical experiences have given Cohen a huge vocabulary to share on the bandstand.”

I hope this guzheng étude makes you feel 15 again!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s composition was recorded on four-track guzheng. The inspiration came from a safari trip in South Africa (photo blow) about fifteen years ago. I was fascinated by the wild animals that we passed by, especially the goofy and cute zebras. They were the most chill and friendly to us, unlike the rhinos or the elephants. We got chased by an angry rhino and an elephant on two separate occasions. That was scary.

How much I miss Africa!

Hope this piece brings you joy.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng piece today while thinking of the wild deer in the forest near my home in West Nashville. Hunting season has begun in Tennessee, and I hope these deer escape the hunters’ arrows.

I played all the tracks using harmonics and half-muted strings. My left hand lightly touched the strings with all five fingers while my right hand did the plucking. Producing accurate harmonics at a fast tempo was not easy, and I had to re-record several sections many times, especially in the higher register.

Concert Announcement:

If you or your friends are in Seattle, I’m coming to your city next month!

On December 10th, I will be giving a solo concert at the Carlson Theatre, presented by the International Guitar Series at Bellevue College. In addition to the performance, I will lead a masterclass for music majors and rehearse a student composer’s new ensemble piece written for the guzheng and other instruments. This new work will have its premiere at my concert, and I am very excited to present it!

For more information and tickets, please visit the KBCS-FM (91.3 MHz) website here. KBCS is a public radio station in Bellevue, Washington, owned by Bellevue College, which serves the Puget Sound region, including Seattle.

Venue: Carlson Theatre

Address: 3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, WA 98007

Date & Time: December 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s guzheng and vocal improvisation was inspired by an interesting discovery in my house. I was heating up lunch in the microwave while my husband was making an espresso with the coffee machine. The two machines were humming at the same time, and they were both at the same pitch—B flat. (By the way, I have perfect pitch, which is a blessing but can also be really annoying because I can’t turn myself off.)

This discovery reminded me of another coincidence from a few years ago. I was tuning my guzheng in a hotel room before a concert, and the hum from the air conditioning was also B flat. It was extremely annoying because I had to tune all the A strings first on the guzheng—and B flat is a half step higher than A. My tuner was struggling to stay calm between my A’s and the constant B flat from the air conditioning in the background.

Now, I’m pretty sure that whoever designed the electrical system in the U.S. must be a clarinet player :D

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

In the world of AI, making mistakes has become more valuable. At least it is real. I took this photo yesterday near my home in Nashville. The colors are so intense under the sun that it looks almost like an oil painting. I was inspired.

Today, I used all overtones on the guzheng to create this piece. Because it is a multi-track piece, sometimes my plucking doesn’t line up perfectly between tracks. I used to think it’s a flaw for recorded music. Not any more. It’s probably very hard to fake mistakes. Hope this song can massage your ear drums.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Dear listeners,

Today, I tuned my guzheng to a frequency of A4 = 432 Hz, which is also known as “cycles per second”. This term comes from the fact that sound waves have a frequency measurable as a number of oscillations, or cycles, per second.

An intriguing comment from my last newsletter, “1220 Bamboo Shadow 竹影,” led to a discussion about the colored strings on my guzheng and their purpose. In that context, Klaus Hubbertz shared an article titled, “Music Tuned to 440 Hz Versus 432 Hz and the Health Effects: A Double-blind Cross-over Pilot Study.”

To quote the study’s introduction:

“Context

The current reference frequency for tuning musical instruments is 440 Hz. Some theorists and musicians claim that the 432 Hz tuning has better effects on the human body, but there are no scientific studies that support this hypothesis.

Objective

To identify differences in vital parameters and perceptions after listening to music at different frequencies, 440 Hz versus 432 Hz.”*

I hope you will read the full article. It is fascinating how science can explore the effects of string vibrations on our bodies, nerves, and well-being.

I am so fascinated by this research that I have tuned one of my guzhengs to 432 Hz to begin my own exploration with you all. This is the first time I have ever knowingly tuned my instrument to this frequency, and I would love to hear your feedback in the future.

I will have another guzheng tuned to the standard A4 = 440 Hz and will continue to record with it as well. I may or may not mention in my posts which guzheng I use, so you can simply feel the difference without any preconception.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This guzheng improvisation was recorded earlier today, performed on two guzhengs (photo below). The instruments are tuned differently, though they share several common pitches. I’ve always been drawn to multi-tonality—to me, the world is heard in many colors of sound.

The lighter-colored guzheng is crafted from nanmu wood (楠木), a precious timber native to China and South Asia. Historically, nanmu was used in boatbuilding, architecture, furniture, and sculpture. A recent archaeological excavation in Lija village, Jiangxi Province, uncovered 47 coffins made of nanmu wood—dating back about 2,500 years to the Eastern Zhou dynasty. Well, maybe my guzheng can last that long too ;)

The darker, slightly smaller guzheng is made from zitan wood (紫檀), an extremely dense rosewood so heavy it sinks in water. Zitan ranges in color from blackish-purple to deep reddish-black. Its fibers are rich with natural pigments that have been used as dye since ancient times.

Both instruments were made in Yangzhou, a city on China’s eastern coast renowned for its long tradition of instrument craftsmanship and its connections to celebrated poets. Among them is Zheng Banqiao (郑板桥, 1693–1765), also known as Zheng Xie, one of the “Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou.” His paintings of orchids, bamboo, and stones have been admired for centuries. My Nanmu guzheng is inscribed with his calligraphy and a carved motif of orchids, bamboo, and stone. The four characters are “wind, move, bamboo, shadow.”

I’d like to share one of Zheng Banqiao’s well-known poems with you:

《竹石》

咬定青山不放松，立根原在破岩中。

千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风。

“Bamboo and Rock”

Clenching the blue hills, not loosening its hold,

Its roots are planted deep in the broken rock.

Tempered through countless blows, it’s tough and bold,

Let the winds from all directions whip and knock.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today, I sang and improvised this song on the valiha—a traditional 21-string tube zither from Madagascar (photo below). I want to thank my dear friends Tasha and David for bringing me this beautiful gift all the way from Madagascar to Nashville.

Coincidentally, the valiha, the Chinese guzheng, and kora (or cora) from West Africa all have 21 strings. I need to get myself a kora to unite the 21-string gang!

In Chinese, a giraffe is called 长颈鹿 (cháng jǐng lù), which means “long-necked deer.” When I was a toddler, I called giraffes “脖脖鹿” (bóbo lù), or “neck-neck deer,” because I couldn’t pronounce “cháng jǐng lù” yet while I was still learning how to talk.

I’d love to go back to Africa with my family someday.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed this four-track guzheng étude today. The tomatoes in my mom’s garden are ripe. They’re as beautiful as they are delicious (photo below). That sweet-and-sour taste awakens every nerve from my skull to my spine. It will be hard to return to store-bought tomatoes once fall ends. I hope you enjoy this piece!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This four-track guzheng set was inspired by the Jack-o’-lantern mushrooms I saw on a hike today (photo below). They’re all over the hills in West Nashville, and it was my first time seeing these bright orange fungi. I just had to look them up.

They grow in clusters on decaying stumps, buried roots, or at the base of hardwood trees in Europe and eastern North America. These mushrooms are poisonous and can cause severe cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested.

Encountering them has kicked off my Halloween season in a serious way :D I might even dress up as one!

Wish you a fun and fascinating weekend! May you discover something unusual.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng piece today. The entire piece is built on double and triple tremolos, played simultaneously by my right thumb, index, and middle fingers. I was inspired by a conversation with my 10-year-old about the universe—how everything will keep stretching until it bursts. The micro world can be as powerful as macro space, and I can already feel this power in this very moment from the forest west of Nashville (photo below).

I hope this piece gives you energy!

Next Monday, I will be traveling to New York City. On Tuesday, I will give a very special performance with my dear friend, singer-songwriter Abigail Washburn, at the Gala for the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. As the relationship between our two countries faces challenges, it feels more important than ever to share our common desire for beauty and our shared humanity.

My daily music posts will resume later next week. Thank you for all your support and understanding! Have a fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Moon Festival! Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, tonight brings the fullest and brightest moon of the year.

The Mid-Autumn Festival—sometimes called the Mooncake Festival—is a traditional Chinese harvest celebration held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, under a full moon. This year, it falls on October 6th. For Chinese communities worldwide, it’s the second most important holiday after Lunar New Year.

Over the past day, I’ve been sending holiday wishes to Chinese friends and family on WeChat and here in the West. An old middle-school classmate shared a stunning shot she took last night by the White Pagoda at Miaoying Temple (白塔寺) in Beijing. The pagoda stands where the Yong’an Temple once stood during the Liao Dynasty (916–1125). That neighborhood is where we grew up—for about ten years, I passed this pagoda on weekly bus rides between home and school.

The melody in the song is inspired by a traditional tune in China called 《彩云追月》, literal translation is ‘colorful clouds chase the moon’. This melody became popular in Guangdong province as early as the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD).

To mark the day, I’d like to share a couplet by Zhang Jiuling (张九龄, Tang Dynasty, 678–740 AD):

“海上生明月，天涯共此时。

Over the sea, the moon shines bright;

We gaze on it, far, far apart.”

These lines are from his poem “Looking at the Moon and Thinking of One Far Away” (《望月怀远》), expressing how, despite the distance, we share the same moonlit moment.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

All the photos below are from my Lithuania debut concert with the Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra.

It was an honor to have my own work debuted along with my heroes - Tan Dun 谭盾whose concerto I played, Dr. Chen Yi 陈怡 and Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu 武满彻.

I was moved by the audience’s warmth, including those who drove three hours from Vilnius. The response was so overwhelming after the first half that I found myself taking three bows even before the intermission. It was especially heartening to see so many young faces in the crowd—and to receive roses from the youngest attender was a perfect touch.

Hope this song brings you joy into your weekend!

All photos below by Egle Sabaliauskaite VZX except my selfies.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

How have you all been? Thank you for being patient with me this last week when I was away from home. I have returned home from a beautiful trip premiering guzheng concertos with the Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra in Lithuania. It was a such a wonderful collaboration and a cultural experience for me. I’ll share more about this trip in the coming newsletters. I fell in love with the beautiful Lithuanian people, landscape and culture.

This night song is inspired by an evening walk I did by the Danė River in the heart of Klaipeda. It was a peaceful and colorful evening, just like this piece.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Shana Tova! Happy Rosh Hashanah if you celebrate the Jewish new year! It will be the year 5786 beginning at sundown on the eve of September 22, 2025. I thought the Chinese new year was old :)

As I’m preparing my first trip to the Baltic coast to play with the Klaipeda Chamber Orchestra in Lithuania, I just learned something absolutely amazing after googling “Lithuanian and Latvian folk music”. As a guzheng musician, I’m over joyed by this discovery:

“The kanklės (Lithuanian, photo 1) ) is a Lithuanian plucked string instrument belonging to the Balticbox zither family known as the Baltic psaltery, along with the Latvian kokles (photo 2). Estonian kannel, Finnish kantele, and Russian gusli”

Today’s piece is inspired by all of these instruments. I must find out more about the history of all the plucked zithers!

In the video below is the Latvian national instrument kokle ensemble "Teiksma" plays Latvian folk song "Jūrā gāju naudas gūt". This song is about sea and about people lost in the sea.

My daily music newsletter will resume on October 1st after I come back from Europe. Thank you for your support and patience again!

If you or your friends are in the Baltic Sea region, hope to see you at my debut concert. You can find out more and get tickets here.

Wish you all a wonderful week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Right now, the forests of Tennessee are becoming more colorful by the day. It is my favorite time of the year. Today’s improvisation was recorded on two guzhengs. The first time I premiered a double-guzheng concert was at Big Ears Festival in 2017 (photo below). It was in the St. John’s Cathedral in Knoxville, Tennessee. The acoustic was stunning. I am very excited to play at Big Ears Festival again March 26 - 29, 2026 again.

I tuned the guzhengs in multiple scales. They share many pitches but not all. Therefore, they create rich sonic resonances when they are played together. I hear their differences within a coherence. Hope this piece massage your eardrums in a different way today.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed and recorded this guzheng étude today, inspired by the patterns of one of the ceilings in the National Palace of Sintra (photo below). I visited this historical place in July this year. Growing up in Beijing, I have always been fascinated by the architectural design and paintings of old palaces, like the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. In Sintra Palace, I was mesmerized by the style of the ceilings there. I instantly relate to writing music compositions — how to combine sparkle ideas with practicality of constructing a piece that sounds good, works well, and is true to my original thought without going off the topic throughout the piece. Hope this song brings you joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I am excited to announce I'll be returning to perform at Big Ears Festival 2026, March 26-29 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Honored to be included in an AMAZING lineup including many of my heroes including Laurie Anderson and John Zorn. For more information or to purchase passes, please visit https://bigearsfestival.org

BigEarsKnox

很兴奋的与大家分享，我将于2026年3月26日至29日在美国田纳西州的诺克斯维尔市著名的Big Ears音乐节上演出，这将是我第三次登场 Big Ears 音乐节。非常荣幸能加入这场精彩的演出阵容，包括音乐家John Zorn & Laurie Anderson等！如需了解更多信息或购买门票，请登陆 https://bigearsfestival.org

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I'm excited to share a new three-track guzheng piece I recorded today. It was inspired by a small Eastern Box Turtle I met on my driveway yesterday before a hike.

I included a photo for scale. It's always a gift to see these fascinating turtles around my home in the summer. I hope this music brings a little calm to your weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

My heart is heavy with the news of the passing of a family friend today.

It is the Chinese Qixi festival, sometimes called Chinese Vaentine’s Day, which comes from a story of a family whose mother is imprisoned in the heavens. Every year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, according to the myth of Qixi, swallows fly together to make a bridge so her husband and their children can reunite with her for a day.

So Qixi was melancholy four me today and I sought solace in my instrument. I played an impromptu, multi-track guzheng and vocal piece.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed this two-track guzheng lullaby today, inspired by my experience of watching the shooting stars in Shamrock Ranch last week in California (photo by Dimmi Zhang below). The only light pollution there was our headlight and car lights. I envied the trees and the grapes. They get to sleep, wake up and be nurtured by the sky and the stars. The grapes tasted amazing — sour and sweet, exact the kind I liked.

Hope this song helps you to fall asleep.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Thank you all for your patience while I was traveling in Northern California. I've returned to the green forests of Middle Tennessee feeling deeply inspired.

That inspiration led to this solo improvisation, which I created while reconnecting to the memory of the incredible night sky I witnessed near the Shamrock Ranch. With very little light pollution, the view was breathtaking—my good friend even captured the Milky Way with his camera, and I was lucky enough to see meteors streak across the sky on several nights.

The experience vividly reminded me of the ancient Classic of Poetry from China. Dating from the 11th to 7th centuries BC, it's the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry and one of the Five Classics traditionally edited by Confucius. For millennia, its 305 works have been studied and memorized by scholars throughout East Asia.

Here is the translation of the poem from the Classic of Poetry:

“The dishes are filled with food,

But the thorn-handled spoons are curved.

The Zhou road is like a whetstone,

Straight as an arrow.

The nobles tread upon it,

While the commoners only gaze.

Looking back at it,

Tears fall in streams.

In the east, both great and small,

The looms are empty.

Tough sandals of grass,

Can tread on frost.

The dainty noblemen,

Walk on the Zhou road.

Coming and going,

They grieve my heart.

The cold spring bubbles,

But do not soak the firewood.

Sleepless, I sigh in sorrow,

Grieving for our toiling people.

If this firewood is to be burned,

It can still be carried away.

Alas for our toiling people,

Should they not also rest?

The children of the east,

Labor without reward.

The children of the west,

Wear splendid clothes.

The children of boatmen,

Are clad in bearskins and furs.

The children of servants,

Hold all offices.

Some offer them wine,

But not the common drink.

They wear long pendants,

But not as tokens of merit.

The Milky Way in heaven,

Shines as a mirror.

The triplet Weaving Maid,

Moves seven times a day.

Though she moves seven times,

She weaves no pattern.

The bright Ox,

Does not pull the cart.

In the east shines Venus at dawn,

In the west, Venus at dusk.

The long-net in heaven,

Is stretched across the sky.

In the south is the Winnower,

But it cannot sift grain.

In the north is the Dipper,

But it cannot hold wine.

The Winnower in the south,

Draws in its tongue.

The Dipper in the north,

Lifts its handle to the west. ”

《诗经·小雅·大东》

有饛簋飧，　有捄棘匕。

周道如砥，　其直如矢。

君子所履，　小人所视。

眷言顾之，　潸焉出涕。

小东大东，　杼柚其空。

纠纠葛屦，　可以履霜。

佻佻公子，　行彼周行。

既往既来，　使我心疚。

有冽氿泉，　无浸获薪。

契契寤叹，　哀我惮人。

薪是获薪，　尚可载也。

哀我惮人，　亦可息也。

东人之子，　职劳不来。

西人之子，　粲粲衣服。

舟人之子，　熊罴是裘。

私人之子，　百僚是试。

或以其酒，　不以其浆。

鞙鞙佩璲，　不以其长。

维天有汉，　监亦有光。

跂彼织女，　终日七襄。

虽则七襄，　不成报章。

彼牵牛，　　不以服箱。

东有启明，　西有长庚。

有捄天毕，　载施之行。

维南有箕，　不可以簸扬。

维北有斗，不可以挹酒浆。

维南有箕，　载翕其舌。

维北有斗，　西柄之揭。

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s new song was inspired by a magical summer night I spent at the Alcazaba of Málaga last month. Exactly one month ago, I gave my debut solo concert in Spain at that breathtaking castle (photo below). My green room overlooked the city, offering a stunning view of Málaga glowing under the night sky. The concert began around 10:30 PM—later than I’m used to—but I loved the city’s vibrant energy after dark. In Spain, that’s when the most exciting part of the day truly begins. I hope this song brings a little peace to your day.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll be taking a short break until next Wednesday as I travel to Northern California for an artist residency at Shamrock Ranch. I can’t wait to meet new friends, spark fresh ideas, and create more music. Wishing you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Last month in Mojácar, Spain, I was deeply moved by the words engraved on the door of the house where I stayed. Hosted by my dear friends who are the owners. They organized an amazing concert for me (sold-out) within those very walls—a space that embodied wisdom, art, and kinship (photo below). What an honor to receive such a hospitality! Hope this piece brings you joy.

Translation:

“In this house, a temple of wisdom, art and books, lives a family rich in ideas, curiosities, and passions. Do not stop at its door — cross its threshold. All that is required is friendship, heart, projects and dreams. In return, you will leave loaded with knowledge and new aspirations.

To the unique and eminent Professor and Historian Juan A. Grima Cervantes, as a token of recognition and gratitude from his friends, colleagues, and townspeople.

Las Alparatas, October 23, 2022”

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Inspired by a moment last month in the tiny Spanish mountain village of El Villar—watching an old shepherd with his flock (photo below)—I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng piece today. It explores structure through ostinato and non-strict pitch-reversed canon.

What does that mean?

🎵 Ostinato: A recurring motif or phrase (rhythmic, melodic, or both), often maintaining its core identity while adapting to harmonies. Think Ravel’s Boléro or Mancini’s Peter Gunn theme.

🎵 Pitch-Reversed Canon: A melody ("leader") is imitated by another voice ("follower") with its pitches inverted (high→low becomes low→high) but keeping the original rhythm. Here, it’s applied non-strictly, allowing subtle variation.

These techniques let me develop the music organically without new themes. Of course, there are moments in the piece that I just threw something randomly because I felt it. Hope the piece brings you some vibrant energy!

Questions about the composition? Ask below—I’d love to discuss!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I just finished composing this four-track guzheng piece today. As I walked to my studio, seven wild turkeys lined my driveway like a feathered procession. They foraged beneath our bird feeder, cleaning up every spilled seed – a determined, hungry crew. It's good to see them return. Last spring they looked robust; now their bellies seem leaner. Time to help them rebuild their reserves. Hope this piece finds you well!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today’s prepared-guzheng piece was inspired by my visit to Portugal’s medieval town of Óbidos last month. I attended their annual summer festival where the streets filled with people in period costumes—imagine sweltering heat rivaling Nashville’s, complete with cicadas (you’ll hear them in the recording!).

For those new to prepared instruments: They’re traditional instruments altered to produce unconventional sounds, often by attaching objects or using extended techniques. Pioneered in the 20th century by John Cage (think: his prepared pianos), this practice redefines acoustic possibilities.

Exciting European debut:

On September 27, 2025 (Saturday), I’ll perform with Lithuania’s Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra. Ticket details are here.

May today’s piece energize your spirit! If you’re near Lithuania this September—hope to meet you there.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this guzheng solo piece today. The music flowed naturally as soon as I started playing. Later, I came across this old photo in my Google Photos. It captured me standing next to a silo in The Nations neighborhood of Nashville – an abandoned site back then. It struck me how much has changed. That same silo now has a large mural visible from the nearby highways.

This was during a photoshoot for Native Magazine; the area felt uniquely compelling to our team. The Nations has transformed completely since. You can’t stand in that exact spot for a shoot now. There is a sign on the fence that says “No Photoshoot”. I'm glad to have this photo – it holds a piece of the neighborhood's earlier, grittier character before its renewal.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

How have you been? I’ve missed you. I’ve missed creating my daily music.

After an intense summer travel in Spain and Portugal with my family and for concerts, I am back in the calm Tennessee forest. There is so much I have absorbed from the Iberian Peninsula — the nature, the people, the languages, the cultures, the food, the castles, the history etc. In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be sharing more photos and experiences from this trip, including my concerts in the Alcazaba (castle) de Málaga and Mojácar in Spain, which both were sold out :) I can’t wait to return to Spain next summer to share more of my music!

My next concert will be as a soloist with the Klaipèda Chamber Orchestra in Lithuania.

Date and time: September 27, Saturday, 2025 at 18:30

Venues: Klaipèdia Concert Hall, Šaulių str. 36, Klaipėda, Lithuania

Contemporary Music Festival "Permainų muzika"Artistic Director – Mindaugas Bačkus

Conductor – Leif Karlsson (Sweden)Soloist – Wu Fei (Guzheng / voice)

Programme: Works by maestros 武満徹 Tōru Takemitsu, 谭盾 Tan Dun, and my own. (What an honor to be programmed in the same concert as my heros’ work that I studied as a composition student at China Conservatory of Music! )

Info and tickets, please click here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This solo guzheng piece was recorded today, inspired by the iconic mural on a grain silo in Nashville’s The Nations neighborhood. My family and I lived there after moving from Beijing (2015–2016). I still remember the bare silo, and how I longed to climb inside — to see Nashville through its highest window.

Time moves irreversibly, yet art bends memory. This composition is my time machine. Hope it returns you, too, to a half-forgotten moment you’ve wondered about.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed this 3-track guzheng waltz today. Hummingbirds have returned to our Tennessee forest. I have a couple of bird feeders outside of my window. They have been coming to drink the sugar water multiple times a day. This adult male ruby-throated hummingbird has become less afraid of me. Now, he drinks the sugar water even if I stand in front of the feeder (photo 1 below). Wish I had a better camera to capture the flying bird. I found a hi-res photo of the same kind of hummingbird online (photo 2). What a gorgeous and mysterious little creature it is! Hope this song brings you a fun moment.

For friends in Málaga,Spain,

I am so excited to be debuting my solo concert at the historical Alcazaba of Málaga on July 15.

Alcazaba of Málaga:

“Perched dramatically on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean port and city of Málaga, Spain, the Alcazaba is an exceptionally well-preserved 11th-century Moorish fortress-palace. Built primarily during the reign of the Berber Taifa king Badis ben Habus of the Hammudid dynasty, it served as both a formidable defensive stronghold utilizing Roman ruins in its foundations and an opulent residential complex for Muslim rulers, featuring intricate palaces, serene courtyards, lush gardens, and reflective pools. Accessible via a winding, fortified path through multiple gates and towers, this layered citadel exemplifies Hispano-Muslim military architecture and Nasrid artistry, offering breathtaking panoramic views and representing one of the most significant and visually striking historical landmarks in Andalusia, showcasing centuries of layered history from its Roman base through its Islamic zenith to later Christian modifications.”

More info about my concert, please visit Cultura.Malaga.edu.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I just composed this 3-track guzheng piece with half of strings muted. (Guzheng has 21 strings.) I was inspired by a cute little frog that was not afraid of the heat of Nashville’s mid-summer (photo below). Hope this song brings you a moment of fun energy :)

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this two-track upbeat guzheng étude a few minutes ago. The mid-register of the strings are half muted by a piece of thin cloth to stop the long lingering sound. If you play the piano, the cloth functions as the damper on the guzheng. When the guzheng is played in a fast tempo, the sound has much more clarity. I like to play études this way on the guzheng. Hope this piece brings you energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This solo guzheng piece, recorded just moments ago, is dedicated to all navigating health struggles. A dear friend’s illness recently reminded me of life’s fragility — and how much we must treasure time with those we love.

Yesterday in the park, I spotted a single bee on a purple American bellflower (photo below). I wish this captured moment of nurturing and transforming each other to lasting forever.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening everyone,

I composed and recorded this new song with voice and on the valiha today. The valiha is a traditional 21-string tube zither from Madagascar (photo below). I want to thank my dear friends Tasha and David for bringing me this beautiful gift from Madagascar to Nashville.

The valihais made from a species of bamboo and is considered the national instrument of Madagascar. Aside from recreational music, the valiha is also used for ritual music to summon spirits. The way the valiha is played is very different from the guzheng. I am still learning how to hold the instrument comfortably and steadily so I can free my fingers to just focus on playing.

Playing the valiha makes me miss Africa and the Indian Ocean, where I have spent some very happy times. Hope this song brings you peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Last night, I recorded this 2-track guzheng piece quite late. It’s been a stressful few days helping my parents renew their passports – dealing with family administration can be very challenging. When I took my father grocery shopping at our local international market earlier in the day, the old owner, Mr. Kim from Korea, greeted him as usual with a sweet smile. This time, he said, “Happy Father’s Day” to my father. Suddenly, I realized it was Father’s Day. A sense of guilt hit me because I’d just been complaining to my father about how difficult I’d found the household administrative tasks, and I’d completely forgotten the holiday. My father didn’t mind – he’s a typical old Chinese man who isn’t very verbal about feelings. In fact, he’s often critical of almost everything I do, including my music (can you believe that? Haha!). Yet, he’s cooked three meals a day for my mom and me since they got married – every day until I left for college. He still cooks three meals a day for her.

Looking at this photo of my husband and our daughter back in 2013 in New Zealand (my husband’s parents were with us on the beach too), I feel deeply grateful for all the fathers in my life. They are strong yet fragile; stubborn yet sensitive; hardworking but with their own ways of enjoying life. Most importantly: they all love me, and I love them all.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good afternoon, evening, and morning,

This 3-track guzheng composition was created today. I was inspired by a bright pink flower that I saw in the town of Dötlingen, Germany a month ago when I was on tour with my new band-semble House of Wu Fei. We had a day off in Germany. Dötlingen was a lovely town full of beautiful gardens with flowers. I walked by a hot pink blossom (photo). However, I didn’t find out the name of it until today. It is called President Roosevelt. Isn’t that interesting? I had to find out why:

After Theadore Roosevelt’s presidency, he embarked a widely publicized European tour. On May 12, 1910, he gave a famous speech in Berlin titled "The World Movement" advocating for international cooperation. His visit generated a great deal of public enthusiasm across Germany. It's highly probable that a German nursery or horticulturalist around this time named a new or distinctive dahlia (or other showy flower) variety after him to capitalize on his immense popularity and commemorate his visit. Finding it in Götlingen suggests this local name persisted as a nostalgic tribute, turning the flower into a unique "living souvenir" of TR's historic trip. What an amazing symbol this flower carries about history, diplomacy, and local pride!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This guzheng piece was filmed by my dear friend Lely who is also a guzheng musician and violinist. Lely is visiting me from Yale University where she founded and has been running the New Haven Chinese Cultural Cooperative since 2023. They promote traditional Chinese and Taiwanese music and give concerts in the greater New Haven area. Check out their website for their upcoming concerts!

Lely and I have been having a great time talking about music, food, culture and life. I showed her my instruments. She played for me beautifully. It was my first time hearing my own guzheng played like a symphony. I was overjoyed and decided to play something too on a totally randomly tuned scale on the spot. Lely recorded this new improvisation. Thanks to her being right there at this special moment and documented it.

Zheng in the title is Zhèng Bǎnqiáo (郑板桥, 1693–1765). He was a renowned Qing Dynasty painter, calligrapher, and poet, celebrated as one of the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou." (扬州八怪). Zheng specialized in ink bamboo and orchid paintings, infusing them with poetic expression and a distinctive, bold calligraphic style known as "slanting bones" (xie ti). A principled Confucian scholar-official, he famously resigned his post as county magistrate in protest over famine relief policies, embodying his rebellious spirit and deep empathy for the common people. His work fused art, poetry, and moral integrity, leaving a lasting legacy in Chinese literati culture.

Claude Monet (1840–1926) was a French Impressionist painter whose revolutionary approach focused on capturing fleeting effects of light, atmosphere, and color in the natural world. Rebelling against traditional studio techniques, he often painted en plein air (outdoors), using rapid, visible brushstrokes and a vibrant palette to convey immediate sensory experiences. Monet’s iconic series include Water Lilies, Haystacks, and Rouen Cathedral.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of wonder.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This meditative guzheng improvisation was recorded today, inspired by the warm color of the summer sunset in the forest near my home in Nashville, Tennessee (photo below). The short-lived sunset behind the dark green pine forest is always breathtaking. Shall I never take it for granted. Hope this song brings you joy and peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this solo guzheng night song today. Yesterday, I saw a baby kingsnake in Edwin Warner Park in Nashville (photo below). It was scrawling on the hiking trail trying to get to the other side of the road. This summer has been much cooler than the previous years in Nashville. It also has been an exceptionally rainy year, with one of the wettest starts to a year on record, with 31 inches of rain so far. The average rainfall at this point of the year is 23.8 inches. And with all that rain comes flash flooding and fallen trees. I have seen many more snakes than ever I recall. Most the snakes here are non-venomous, and they are quite chill just wanting to sunbath. I see as a lucky sign encountering many snakes in the year of the snake :) Hope this song brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

I recorded this solo guzheng composition today with the memory of passing by the windmills in Hamburg two weeks ago. I was on tour in Europe with my new ensemble — House of Wu Fei. There were a lot of solar panels and windmills all over Europe. Using clean and renewable energy was in people’s life everywhere. It is quite different than where I live in Tennessee. On the tour, my friends in the ensemble had a lot of discussions about what we could do as individuals to reduce using a lot of unnecessary resources. For example, maybe start to produce less trash everyday and buy less stuff that we don’t absolutely need. Small steps count. Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into the weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed this slow two-voice counterpoint waltz today. In music theory, counterpoint is the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines (also called voices) that are harmonically dependent on each other, yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour.The term originates from the Latin punctus contra punctum meaning "point against point", i.e. "note against note". Music theorist and composer, Professor John Ray describes counterpoint as follows:

It is hard to write a beautiful song. It is harder to write several individually beautiful songs that, when sung simultaneously, sound as a more beautiful polyphonic whole. The internal structures that create each of the voices separately must contribute to the emergent structure of the polyphony, which in turn must reinforce and comment on the structures of the individual voices. The way that is accomplished in detail is ... 'counterpoint'.

This song was inspired by the delicate Japanese honeysuckle on the hills of west Nashville near my home (photo below). Hope it brings you a moment of peace to your day.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this solo guzheng improvisation today with the memory of a horse sculpture I saw in Mechelen, Belgium two weeks ago. I was having dinner in the square of St. Rumbold’s Cathedral. I noticed this horse head above me. It had a subtle smile (photo below). How cute it is! Hope this piece brings you joy today.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this étude today inspired by my encounter with a northern black racer snake during my hike in the forest yesterday (photo below). This kind of snake is common in the state of Ohio. In fact, the northern black racer is the state reptile of Ohio. Seeing it near my home makes me happy that our economy system must be good for the black racers. This snake was very calm sun bathing when I saw it. It did not move at all when I walked past it. Living in nature has taught me so much about Mother Earth. Humans have a lot of misunderstanding about how nature works. No wonder there are so many ridiculous behaviors and policies made by humans are damaging the environment. Hope this piece brings you energy into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I recorded this three-track guzheng piece today. One of the beautiful places I played in Europe with my new ensemble House of Wu Fei was in the Halmstad City Library. The glass art installation in the middle of the library was magical (photo below). Every time I looked up in front of me while I was playing, the colorful glass pieces took me to a wonder land. Hope this piece brings you to your wonder place.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

I created this two-track guzheng piece today thinking about the walk I did with my band mates from the House of Wu Fei last week in a town called Dötlingen in Germany. An unexpected wheat farm popped out of the forest (photo below). It gave me a sense of sudden comfort that I wanted to lay on top of the farm. I hope this piece brings you sweet dreams tonight.

Here is the link of the live concert video of House of Wu Fei debuting in the legendary venue Bimhuis in the heart of Amsterdam since 1974.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

I just created this solo guzheng étude in a very fast tempo. I didn’t wear finger picks and used a bandanna threading through the strings. You can hear the half muted sound effect of the guzheng. I was inspired by the fire pink flowers that are blossoming in the wet forest near my home in Nashville. The rain from earlier boosted a lot of new blossoms! Hope this piece brings you fun energy into the weekend!

The Chinese title of the song is called 灼灼. The phrase originated from the poem “Peach Blossoms". It is from the Classic of Poetry (Shījīng), section "Airs of Zhōu and the South" (Zhōunán).

The Shījīng was compiled between the 11th to 6th century BCE (Western Zhōu to Spring and Autumn Period).
This poem likely originated in the 8th–6th century BCE, as a folk song celebrating marriage and fertility.

《诗经·周南·桃夭》

《桃夭》

桃之夭夭，灼灼其华。

之子于归，宜其室家。

桃之夭夭，有蕡其实。

之子于归，宜其家室。

桃之夭夭，其叶蓁蓁。

之子于归，宜其家人。

《Peach Blossoms》

The peach tree sways, so young, so bright;

Its blossoms blaze—a scarlet light.

The girl who weds, in robes arrayed,

Shall bless the house her hands have made.

The peach tree sways, so young, so bold;

Its fruits will swell like flames in gold.

The girl who weds, with grace endowed,

Shall bless this home, its hearth, its vow.

The peach tree sways, so young, so loud;

Its leaves crowd thick—a burning cloud.

The girl who weds, with love so true,

Shall bless this house, its kin, its roots.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This night song improvisation was recorded this morning. It captures the delicate pink early azaleas of Nashville. Yes, they have blossomed fully (photo below)! It is a song good for meditation if that is something you do. When I play or compose, I like to do deep breathing as I phrase the melodic passages. It feels like nature’s cycles—where flowers bloom, fade, and return, just as the guzheng’s strings echo into the night.

On a separate note, one of my upcoming concerts in Europe has been sold out, which is on May 11 at Nona in Mechelen, Belgium. Thank you so much for your support, my friends in Europe! If you are you in or near the other cities on my tour, hope to see you at my concerts! Links to buy tickets are below, or scan the QR code.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

May 2, Gent, BelgiumHa Concerts 20:15There is also an educational family concert at 17:30.May 3, Tilburg, NetherlandsParadox20:30May 5, Malmö, SwedenVictoriateatern 19:30May 6, Halmstad, SwedenJazz I Halmstad 19:00 May 7, Lerum, SwedenMusik I Lerum 19:00May 8, Göteborg, SwedenKlubb Impuls19:00May 10, Amsterdam, NetherlandsBimhuis 20:30 May 11, Mechelen, Belgium (SOLD OUT) Nona17:00

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I composed and recorded this two-track guzheng piece this morning, inspired by a flamingo. My first sight when I entered the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans last week was a flamingo standing on one leg and taking a nap. As a yogi, that is a goal for me to work on now: to sleep standing on one leg!

House of Wu Fei Europe Tour 2025

I will be sending out more free music newsletters this week since I took last week off with my family for spring break, and I will be heading to Europe in eight days for House of Wu Fei Europe Tour 2025. (You can listen to Listen to House of Wu Fei on SoundCloud.) If you are in or near the cities in early May, I’d love to see you at my concerts (links to buy tickets are below, or scan the QR code above).

May 2, Gent, BelgiumHa Concerts 20:15There is also an educational family concert at 17:30.May 3, Tilburg, NetherlandsParadox20:30May 5, Malmö, SwedenVictoriateatern 19:30May 6, Halmstad, SwedenJazz I Halmstad 19:00 May 7, Lerum, SwedenMusik I Lerum 19:00May 8, Göteborg, SwedenKlubb Impuls19:00May 10, Amsterdam, NetherlandsBimhuis 20:30 May 11, Mechelen, BelgiumNona17:00

欧洲巡演：2025年5月，我将与比利时电音音乐家迪夫·桑德斯（Dijf Sanders）、打击乐西蒙·西格斯（Simon Segers）和贝斯演奏家露易丝·范登赫维尔（Louise van den Heuvel）重聚，开启由比利时Ha Concerts策划的 "House of Wu Fei 吴非堂" 欧洲第二季巡演。该项目于2024年3月首次亮相于比利时根特市。

本次巡演获得欧洲爵士网络绿色试点巡演计划支持。

如果您在欧洲，具体日程及地点, 请扫码或点击上面链接查看详情并购票：

5月2日比利时🇧🇪根特

场地：Ha Concerts 时间：20:15

另设有17:30家庭亲子教育音乐会

5月3日荷兰🇳🇱蒂尔堡

场地：Paradox 时间：20:30

5月5日瑞典🇸🇪马尔默

场地：维多利亚剧院时间：19:30

5月6日瑞典🇸🇪哈尔姆斯塔德

场地：Jazz I Halmstad 时间：19:00

5月7日瑞典🇸🇪勒鲁姆

场地：Musik I Lerum 时间：19:00

5月8日瑞典🇸🇪哥德堡

场地：Klubb Impuls 时间：19:00

5月10日荷兰🇳🇱阿姆斯特丹

场地：Bimhuis 时间：20:30

5月11日比利时🇧🇪梅赫伦

场地：Nona 时间：17:00

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Passover, Easter and Earth Day!

My children had their spring break from school this last week. We went on a road trip to New Orleans. At the Audubon Zoo, a free-range peacock (photo below) caught our attention. It was my first time seeing a peacock only a few feet away opening up his tail. He shook his feathers and made loud callings. It was quite of a show! Apparently, he’s used to having humans near him. It was definitely the highlight of the day! Hope this track brings you joy into your day or night.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This guzheng solo was recorded today, inspired by the early pink azalea—also known as the pinxter flower (photo below). These delicate blooms are lighting up the hills of West Nashville right now, and they’re my favorite wildflowers in the area. Native to eastern North America, they thrive everywhere from Alabama to New Hampshire, their pink-and-white blossoms filling the spring air with a strong, sweet fragrance.

In this improvisation, I used extensive double tremolos—a technique where my thumb and middle finger tremolo together, creating sustained intervals of perfect fourths or fifths. At times, I switched to my index and middle fingers to produce a major second interval, a slight dissonant effect. Playing this way is physically demanding, especially over long stretches. But growth happens at the edge of comfort: I used to max out at 4-5 minutes, but this time, I pushed past eight. It’s not just my hands that have grown stronger—my mind has, too. When the body finds ease, the mind can fully relax into the music.

I hope this piece brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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What a beauty!

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Thank you for being patient with me for the last a few days!

I had a great time performing for the community of University Notre Dame with my dear friend and music collaborator Abigail Washburn. We started off with a stressful drive leaving Nashville last Thursday. Tornado warnings and flood warnings kept popping out of our phones every twenty minutes. The rain was pouring down very heavily the whole time as we drove through Kentucky. But we made it to South Bend, Indiana safely.

On Saturday, forty minutes before our concert at the Leighton Concert Hall, our phones started to get buzzing tornado watch warnings again from Nashville. Abby and I directed our families over the phone to get them drive back home safely from watching the YouTube live stream from the Nashville Severe weather channel. It was the most intense pre-show backstage experience I’ve ever had. Everyone was safe, whew! We had a blast playing on stage that night.

This track was recorded today. It’s been sunny and beautiful in Nashville unlike the day I left. Hope it brings everyone a moment of relaxation.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This was the storm on top of Nashville from the live YouTube channel of Nashville Severe Weather, forty minutes before we got on stage. I thought it was a supercell sweeping through Nashville.

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Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn

Saturday, 7:30pm April 5, 2025

Leighton Concert Hall

Tickets link is here.

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Abigail Washburn is a banjo virtuoso who became fluent in both the language and culture of China while prepping for a career in law focused on U.S.-China relations. Wu Fei, a Chinese musical prodigy and master of the 2,500-year-old 21-string guzheng, was destined for a professional career performing state-sanctioned works in her homeland. Diverging from those paths resulted in a convergence of musical careers that now boldly push the boundaries of what you expect to hear in concert.

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Good morning, afternoon and evening,

This two-track guzheng composition was recorded today. It is inspired by a Virginia spiderwort (photo) in the forest near my home. How brilliantly the purple and the yellow are together! The crispy green leaf is like an eye massager. I would love to have an outfit that has the exact same color combination as this flower with the same sunshine on me. I hear these colors in the harmonies I use in this piece. Hope it brings you joy today!

On Thursday, I will go on a short tour with my dear friend and collaborator Grammy winning banjo singer-song writer Abigail Washburn. We are playing a duo concert at the University of Notre Dame on April 5th, Saturday at 7:30pm in the Leighton Concert Hall. If you or your friends are near South Bend, Indiana, please come! Details and tickets are available here.

Wu Fei's Music Daily is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon and evening,

Hope you are all having a restful Sunday. Thank you for being patient with me in the last few days. Today, I am back in my recording rhythm again. This improvisation was just recorded in my studio as the soft and constant rain was coming down. My crabapple tree is in full blossom now (photo below). I have been waiting for this day since a year ago. Hope my music brings you a peaceful moment in your day.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon and evening,

I just recorded this two-track guzheng (partly prepared) piece today. I used a metal handle that fell off from a measuring cup as part of the instrument (photo below). Now, it is my new music toy and a tuning fork. It produces a perfect D (below A4).

During my morning hike, I saw budding magnolia flowers in the forest (photo below) when many trees were still bare. I instantly felt more energetic from being amused by its hot pink. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy into the day.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I just composed and recorded this piece on a warm spring day in Nashville. We had a big rain storm this weekend. There was a tornado watch alert. No tornado appeared, but a stretch of our road got washed up. It is drivable, but a repair is needed soon.

Today, the weather is stunning again. Everything is growing. The birds, the creek, the frogs, the flowers, and trees are all full of sounds and colors. I loved seeing a bee drinking nectar on top of the beautiful white plum blossoms, which are a symbol of resilience in East Asian cultures.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Good morning, afternoon and evening,

This piece was recorded yesterday after I heard the news of maestra composer Sofia Gubaidulina’s passing. She was 93 years old.

The first time I learned about Gubaidulina’s work was when I was in high school studying composition at the China Conservatory of Music. One day, my main professor put this solo accordion recording on his Kenwood stereo (the best Japanese brand you could find in China at the time). He always blasted the crap out of his speakers whatever he played for his students. My ears and my whole body were in shock by the dark and low humming sound coming out of the speakers. It took me a while to recognize that it was an accordion. As a 15-year old, I had the first real challenge in my life to sit through a music work and to feel possessed in a way. I didn’t like it. Rather, I was frightened. And then, I learned that it was written by a Russian female composer name Sofia Gubaidulina. I thought that she must be some kind of witch.

Fast ward to today, after many years of studying, creating, traveling and becoming older, Gubaidulina’s music has always had a deep and special place in my heart.

“Sofia Gubaidulina was born on Oct. 24, 1931, in Christopol, in the rural Tatar region of the Soviet Union, 600 miles east of Moscow. Her family was poor, and she recalled a bleak existence as a child playing in a yard without grass for a 1990 BBC documentary. "Suddenly the child's imagination turned to the sky," she said. "I sat in that bare yard, with a rubbish dump in the middle, nothing else for a child's ideas. I looked up at the sky, and I began to live up there."

She also began to live within the sounds of the piano. When Gubaidulina began music school, a piano was delivered to her home. "In purely acoustic terms it was heavenly," she remembered. "You could sit underneath and hear unusual sounds. You could play directly on the strings, or the keyboard. There were so many possibilities." In her 2017 interview, she admitted "That was the impulse that inspired me to devote my life to music and art. I wanted to shape sound matter."

Gubaidulina's formal studies, in piano and composition, began at the conservatory in the region's capital city of Kazan, where she graduated in 1954. She enrolled in the Moscow Conservatory and in 1959 met the revered composer Dmitri Shostakovich who gave the young Gubaidulina key advice, boosting her confidence. After hearing her perform a piano reduction of the symphony she'd written for her final exam, the elder composer told her, "My wish for you is that you should continue on your own incorrect path." In other words, do not compromise your vision.

Gubaidulina's path proved to be one of trials and triumphs. In 1973, a stranger attempted to strangle her in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building. A KGB agent was suspected, and yet Gubaidulina scared off the attacker when she asked him why he was taking so long to kill her. In 1979, her music, along with that of six colleagues, was officially denounced as "noisy mud" by the very Soviet Composers' Union Gubaidulina joined in 1961.

Like Shostakovich, Gubaidulina composed a variety of film scores to earn a living during the Soviet era, including one for the 1973 animated feature, Adventures of Mowgli, based on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Also beginning in the 1970s, Gubaidulina was active as a co-founding member of the improvisation group Astrea, where she could focus on the Asian roots of her family tree. "On my father's side I'm a Tatar and on my mother's side I am Slavic," she told the BBC, adding, "I discovered that playing Eastern instruments allows you to understand more about yourself."

Full article on NPR

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Hi everyone,

This video is the first one that I filmed outside this year. The weather is glorious in my Tennessee holler. I’ve double-dosed my allergy pills so that I can enjoy outdoor more. Playing music outside is the best, especially now before the bugs come out. Hope you enjoy this piece. You can hear my neighbor’s dog barking off and on in the background.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

This three-track guzheng waltz was composed and recorded yesterday.

I am never satisfied by music in tonal chromatic scale anymore. The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone, also known as a half-step, above or below its adjacent pitches. In this piece, I initially laid down two tracks: the baseline and the melody, both in tonal scales. And then I felt that there was a huge piece missing with only the perfectly pitched phrases. It sounded so strange until I added the sliding tremolos that broke the “sweetness”. I guess that is the real me — I can’t eat candy. Candy music is the worst. Now, with every spice added to the new dish, I feel a big relief in my chest :)

The photo below is from my solo concert tour in Colombia in August 2024. The graffiti in Colombia was amazing! The photo was taken in Riohacha. The English translation of the text on the wall is:

“Almighty Father, I believe in God. Who do you want? Do you know that I am Francisco el Hombre, of Mary and Joseph? If you are mortal, why don’t I see you? ” Francisco el Hombre is a character of Colombian folklore, who plays Vallenato, a traditional genre of music from Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good afternoon and morning,

I am back to alive from a week of strep throat torture! If you just got out of a sickness, let’s celebrate it. I recorded this three-track guzheng composition two hours ago. There wasn’t any particular inspiration except feeling good about not being sick again. You can hear my energy from this piece. I used a glass slide, a metal slide and a tuning fork to make a lot of sounds on the left side of the guzheng bridges (photo below). It was a lot of fun switching them around on the long strings. The different materials not only creat different timbers when pressing on the same strings, but also create different pitches and harmonics. It is very interesting to hear these sounds. If you are a string player and have similar gears, try them on your instruments. You may hear two scales crossing each other at the same time when you press the slide from one direction - one scale goes from low to high when the other scale (at the same time) goes the opposite direction. I am not sure why that is in physics. Will certainly look it up and share it with you.

Wish you all a restful and fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

I just composed and recorded this three-track guzheng night song. Yesterday, I had to skip a recording day because my spring allergy was killing me. There was not one minute that I could sit straight up without blowing my nose for an entire day. I got too much back when I was wishing for a warm weather :D Today, I feel much better. Thank you all for your support and patience! This night song is inspired by my dream last night. I went back to Fiji in my dream (photo below). Hope this piece helps you to have a sweet dream tonight.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com:

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Hi everyone,

I composed and recorded this two-track prepared guzheng piece yesterday. There are two elements that inspired me: prepared instrument, and the nine scales from the Yuan Dynasty in China.

Prepared instrument (music) refers to experimental music played with a prepared instrument, a musical instrument with objects inserted or attached to alter its sound. In this piece, I stuck two metal key chain rings (photo below) on the strings. The sound almost sounds like a gong, and the pitch changes too.

The nine scales 九宫 (or 五宫四调) was originated in the Song Dynasty in China (960 - 1279 A.D.) The scales became popular in the classical poetry form called Qu during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368 A.D.), and reached a special height of popularity. Therefore it is often called Yuanqu 元曲. This music form always had words as lyrics to be sung. However, I always like the impressionism approach of a reality.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

I have a lot of videos of home practices, concert footages, and scenes from different places where I have performed. Now Substack is making it really easy to share video, so I will be sharing some of them with you in the coming months. If you are not familiar with the guzheng 古筝, you can see more of how I play and sing at the same time—this is rather rare in the guzheng world.

If you search for “guzheng” on the internet, there is a lot of information in English, Chinese, and probably other languages too. It is an ancient plucked string instrument from China and has remained popular in China for more than two thousand years. It is still super popular in China nowadays. I feel very fortunate to play this beautiful instrument, compose for it, and to share my music with people all over the world.

My next concert is my duo project Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn at the Debartolo Performing Arts Center in University of Notre Dame on April 5th, 2025. Details and tickets are available here, or see below:

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Abigail Washburn is a banjo virtuoso who became fluent in both the language and culture of China while prepping for a career in law focused on U.S.-China relations. Wu Fei, a Chinese musical prodigy and master of the 2,000-year-old 21-string guzheng, was destined for a professional career performing state-sanctioned works in her homeland.Diverging from those paths resulted in a convergence of musical careers that now boldly push the boundaries of what you expect to hear in concert. Blurring the lines between their different art forms and homes in Appalachia and China, the effervescent resonances of Fei's guzheng dance around Washburn's expressive banjo playing, creating a musical thread the two friends can't help but use to draw us all closer together.

Special thanks to the Liu Institute for Asia & Asian Studies.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this solo guzheng improvisation yesterday. Last week, I heard the frogs chirping in the creek close to my house in Nashville. It was a sign of the spring coming. I was excited because I have had enough of the cold weather. However, it is going to get cold again this week and it might even snow. Hope this piece brings you a moment of warm energy into your day!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

I just composed and recorded this three-track guzheng étude in the tempo of 211 BPM (beats per minute). 211 beats per minute is considered crazy fast. It means I play 3.5 beats every second. In the recording, I played 4 notes per beat. Therefore, I played 14 notes per second.

Today, there was a lot of strong energy in me that I needed to take out of my head. I was also thinking about the new movie ‘Ne Zha 2 ’that came out in China and will be released in theaters all over the U.S. beginning today. Ne Zha (哪吒Nézhā) is a protection deity in Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religion. His official Taoist name is "Marshal of the Central Altar" (中壇元帥). He was given the title "Third Lotus Prince" (蓮花三太子) after he became a deity.

I have known this mythological character since I was a kid growing up in China. He flies and rides on a pair of wind-fire wheels 风火轮. The photo below shows the ceiling of Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto where I played a concert a few days ago. It looks like a giant wind-fire wheel to me.

Speaking of the concert in Toronto, I am utterly moved by the feedback (see photos below) from the audience. Behind every concert, record, tour and video, there is always a team of dedicated professionals who make enormous amount of prep work happen. I want to thank all of them. And yes, more new music, videos and projects are coming out this year!

Thank you for all your support. Hope this piece brings you strong energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Lantern Festival 元宵节快乐!

I have missed you! My performance with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was mesmerizing. What a high note to kick off the year of the Snake!

I want to thank the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, maestra Naomi Woo who conducted all the pieces performed by featured fellow artists Stella Chen, Dashan 大山, and the Yang Yang Dance Studio.

A huge thank you to Mayor Olivia Chow, for attending the festivities and welcoming audiences to our very special Lunar New Year celebration.

I was overwhelmed by the immense reception after performing composer Tan Dun’s Zheng concerto with string orchestra. As an encore, I sang Wusuli Boat Song - a sweet folk lullaby from northeast China. Due to the musician union rule, we could not record the video of this concert. You can hear the song in today’s track. It is beloved by more than a billion Chinese people around the world. Happy Lantern Festival to you all!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Hi everyone,

Happy Chū wǔ 初五 — the fifth day of the Chinese New Year. On this day, people welcome the God of Wealth 财神 by preparing feasts, eating dumplings, setting off firecrackers, and cleaning their homes, hoping for prosperity and health in the new year. It is one of the few more significant dates during the new year celebration.

I am also getting ready to head to Toronto in a few days to debut my concert as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) for their Chinese Lunar New Year Concert. In the last week, I have skipped a couple of days from my daily post due to the new year holiday for me to be with my family, as well as intensely my practicing of the guzheng concerto that I will be playing with TSO. I want to thank you all for your support and understanding!

On a related note, I want to give a big shot out to Ms. Mei from Music of May in Toronto. She & team Toronto Symphony Orchestra had 24 hours to work with - from knowing I needed to rent a guzheng to arrange getting the guzheng transported from her store to the concert hall for my concert with TSO on February 8th. Because of the size of the guzheng, I always try to find a Chinese music studio to rent or borrow one locally wherever I give a concert rather than flying my own. The guzheng is nearly 6 feet long adding the travel case to it. You can imagine the challenge to flying one on a plane. Airlines don’t make it easy for musicians either. As I am in shock of what the U.S. government is doing to Canada, I’m beyond grateful for my Canadian friends whom I haven’t met and extremely kind to me 🙏

I’d like to share an article of a fun chat I had with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra about my favorite things to do during the Chinese New Year. Here is the link of the article.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

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Happy New Year of the Wood Snake!

This is the first piece of the year of the Snake. I hope it brings you a moment of joy and peace. I had a wonderful family New Year’s Eve dinner. As a family tradition, my mom made a sweet rice cake with the character 福 (fú, meaning happiness or luck) on it that’s made of dates (photo below). The photo is upside down because the “upside down 倒了” also can be said as “arrived 到了” . The Chinese tradition of presenting character 福 (happiness) is always to show it upside down :) Wish you all a lot of joy, good health and prosperity in the year of the Snake!

I wrote a poem to go with this song:

《木蛇福》

青乙衔芝至，灵蛇绕碧柯。

（Wood Snake descends with auspicious herbs, coiling around emerald branches）

泠泠十三柱，沐此上春和。

（Across thirteen icy strings, the melody bathes in vernal harmony）

焦尾裁新谱，钧天续旧歌。

（Crafting new scores on ancient zithers, celestial music revives timeless odes）

弦惊梅雪落，一霎福生多。

（Startled strings shake plum blossoms loose—suddenly, blessings multiply）

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Happy Monday everyone,

I just recorded this three-track guzheng piece. The weather is finally warming up in Nashville! My fingers are coming back to life again. As the Chinese New Year approaching soon (tomorrow is New Year’s Eve), I am feeling super excited to the year of the Snake to begin! I was picturing my fingers moving as fast as firecrackers popping, fueled by “way” too many sweets. Hope this piece brings you energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy Friday everyone,

The cold temperatures in here in Nashville will soon end. Instrumentalists really don’t do well in the cold. Hopefully this morning will be the last day at freezing level for a while. If you’re somewhere freezing and struggling to practice or exercise today, let’s pull through the cold together!

On another subject, I am honored to be featured by Represent Asian. The full article is here.

Thank you all for your support! Have a restful and fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

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Good morning everyone,

Lately, I have been doing Yin yoga in the evening before bedtime. I find it to be helpful for my sleep by adding this night time routine. Having music that is in the right vibe can make a big difference when I practice yoga. To pull myself out of the digital madness these days is essential to maintain a healthy life. This coming week and year will be full of ups and downs in the world. I hope this piece brings you calmness to begin this week.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy Friday everyone,

All my friends and relatives in China have started the count down for the year to change to the Snake on January 29th. The traditional celebrations will last for 15 days once the new year starts. I am completely feeling the excitement now.

I have also been practicing a fantastic guzheng concerto lately in preparation for the Lunar New Year Concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Below is the concert info if you are in Toronto:

Year of the Snake: A Lunar New Year Celebration

February 8, Sat, 2025 at Roy Thompson Hall

Ring in the Lunar New Year with an enchanting evening of music that’s sure to inspire joy and good fortune! Join beloved comedian Dashan, renowned conductor Naomi Woo, and your TSO for a symphonic celebration in honour of the Year of the Snake. This can’t-miss concert weaves together a captivating blend of classic and festive favourites, with performances that are as meaningful as they are mesmerizing. Experience the ethereal sounds of the guzheng, masterfully played by Wu Fei, and enjoy acclaimed violinist Stella Chen as she performs an excerpt from the ever-popular Butterfly Lovers Concerto, a piece cherished for its sweeping melodies and emotional depth. Celebrate the richness of tradition and welcome the new year with these and other festive favourites.

More info and tickets, please click TSO’s website.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Good morning everyone,

This solo guzheng piece was recorded in one take an hour ago. It is an exercise on thumb tremolos.

I have been thinking about how much convenience brought to us by technology nowadays. One realization is that we don’t use our hands to write any more, except to drive cars and type/swipe digital devices etc.. Maybe one day, we will stop learning how to play an instrument because we can create sounds by just blinking our eyeballs. That is a sad and scary picture for me to imagine.

According to American Museum of Natural History:

What makes human hands unique?

“As the grasping hand evolved, claws disappeared. Today, most primates instead have flat fingernails and larger fingertip pads, which help them to hold on. The hands of many higher primates can grasp and manipulate even very small objects.

The human opposable thumb is longer, compared to finger length, than any other primate thumb. This long thumb and its ability to easily touch the other fingers allow humans to firmly grasp and manipulate objects of many different shapes. The human hand can grip with strength and with fine control, so it can throw a baseball or sign a name on the dotted line.”

I would have to add being able to play instruments to this list. Therefore, I highly encourage all my fellow higher primates who can still use our thumbs to go greater things, let’s keep our thumbs active and powerful.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

I recorded this three-track guzheng composition after hiking in the snow today. I saw many animals’ footprints during the hike including the bobcat’s footprints (photo below). I believe it is a female cat. She has been living in the forest for at least three years. This is my third year in a row seeing this bobcat’s footprints in the snow. Two years ago, I spotted a bobcat kitten in the forest. That is why I believe this big bobcat is a female. I hope she took some food home today’s hunting!

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy Laba Festival to you all!

Today is Laba Festival (臘八節). It is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the eighth day of the month of La (or Layue 臘月), the twelfth month of the Chinese calendar. It is the beginning of the Chinese New Year period. The traditional food people eat on this day is Laba congee (臘八粥).

The Laba Festival's name represents its date on the Chinese calendar. La is the name of the twelfth and final month, and ba means "eight". In ancient China, the "eight" referred to making sacrifices to eight gods at the end of the year.

In its original form, the festival was celebrated by making sacrifices to gods and ancestors to wish for good fortune, health, safety, and a good harvest in the new year. The word la originally referred to these sacrifices.

The custom of congee eating has been well-known throughout history, from the royal court to common people. Laba rice congee (or porridge) contains glutinous rice, red beans, millet, Chinese sorghum, peas, dried lotus seeds, red beans and some other ingredients, such as dried dates, chestnut meat, walnut meat, almond, peanut, etc. There are many different kinds of Laba congee that contain different ingredients all around China. But the most popular has 8 ingredients (photo below).

The prelude for the Lunar New Year of the Wood Snake has begun! Hope you are having a fantastic week with lots of healthy foods!

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy Monday everyone,

I recorded this solo guzheng piece today when the snow was coming down. What a fun experience it was for me to accompany the dancing snow flakes! I’d like to quote the poet Zhāng Xiàn’s (1341 A.D.) poem for this moment:

听雪斋 The House of Listening to the Snow

张宪 [元代]

万籁入沈冥，坐深窗户明。微于疏竹上，时作碎琼声。

Translation:

All sounds are in the deep darkness, I sit deep in the window and see the light. The sound is faint on the sparse bamboos, sometimes making soft cracking sounds.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy Friday everyone,

I recorded this multi-track guzheng piece this morning. I used mostly harmonics on the open strings until the very last tremolo that ended the piece. While my right hand plucked the strings, my left hand lightly touched the half-point on the strings, which created the overtone that was an octave higher than the opening strings. An overtone is any resonant frequency above the fundamental frequency of a sound. They are also called harmonics. Overtones are all pitches higher than the lowest pitch within an individual sound; the fundamental is the lowest pitch, which is the open strings.

I was remembering a trip to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands two years ago. I stood in front of a giant tree by the beach. The roots of the tree were exposed (photo below). They look like thousands of toes that could pluck a thousand of guzhengs. I would love to have a thousand toes and a thousand guzhengs!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy first day of 2025 everyone! You may have already entered 2025 by now. But it’s always good to keep the celebration going for a bit longer.

I woke up this morning feeling excited because I had no agenda. The world is paused from expectations. To be able to recharge myself feels great. I am using this time to connect to friends, and to reflect on the past for the future. However, the only reality I have is now. If every moment of now is moving forward with something new, then life will not be boring.

With this thought, I recorded this solo guzheng piece an hour ago to share my gratitude for your support. Wish you all a peaceful and healthy 2025!

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

Hope you are having a peaceful holiday break whether it’s a winter break or a summer break. I took a few days off from posting on Substack to recharge myself. Thank you for being patient with me!

Just now, I felt a strong urge to create this piece. Practicing music has become addictive to me. It feels weird not to practice. Even if I was on break from here the last a few days, I have been practicing a guzheng concerto composed by Tan Dun. It is a very cool piece though it’s nearly twenty five minutes long. I studied maestro Tan Dun’s work when I was a teenager. His major work includes the film soundtrack of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon that won him the Academy Awards for Best Original Film Score. I am excited about performing this concerto of his with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on February 8, 2025 in Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto.

Hope today’s piece brings you a moment of calmness.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

Happy many holidays! Two days ago, on Winter Solstice, my parents made dumplings as the northern Chinese tradition to celebrate this festival. (Over feeding the children is another Chinese tradition 😄). I thought about The Seventeen-Arch Bridge in the Summer Palace in Beijing. The bridge becomes symmetrical around the winter solstice. As the sun’s altitude angle decreases, a “golden light through the holes” will appear before sunset while the Kunming Lake turns to ice - the most beautiful childhood memory. Hope this night song that I just recorded a hour ago brings you a moment of peace into your winter or summer evening.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Yesterday, I received a very sad news that Indian tabla master, composer, producer Zakir Hussain passed away. He was 73 years old. Zakir was known for bringing classical Indian music to a global audience. He was the eldest son of tabla player Alla Rakha, and won four Grammy Awards.

Last year, my whole family was invited to see a house concert of the quartet of Zakir Hussain (tabla), Bela Fleck (banjo), Edgar Meyer (double bass) and Rakesh Chaurasia (Indian flute). It was one of the most memorable concert experiences in my life. Besides the amazing music, I was extra happy to bring my parents (photo below) to see the mastery of these musician friends of mine. After the performance, I translated between my father and Zakir. Zakir told me to tell my father that he was very honored to perform for my father. My father was the oldest person in the room. The Indian and Chinese cultures share the same the value having high respect to elders. My two small children came too. They may not understand how special that night meant to them. One day, they will.

This guzheng and vocal improvisation is inspired by Zakir’s music and legacy. Rest in peace, maestro!

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

Hope you had a restful weekend. This night three-track night song was composed and recorded two days ago. A month ago, I gave concerts and workshops in Louisville, Kentucky (U.S.) as part of the Festival of Faiths. Dear friend Sara Callaway, director of Louisville Academy of Music (LAM) curated the music artists for the festival. We met at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville Tennessee many years ago when I debuted my solo performance at the festival. Since then, Sara has invited me to collaborate more with the students of LAM, especially for their young composer program. Last month, I had a wonderful opportunity to listen to several young composers’ work performed by their teachers from LAM during the festival of Faiths. I was moved and inspired by the LAM community’s on-going determination and commitment to support their youth through music education. Seeing them gives me hope for our future.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy Friday everyone,

This video is from April 2024 filmed in New York City. I invited my long time collaborator double bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz as my guest musician to perform at the Lincoln Center. The full concert on April 11, 2024 video is below on Lincoln Center’s YouTube channel.

I always have a lot of fun playing with Shanir who is also an oud master. The oud is a Middle Eastern short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument. It has more than 3000 years of history (older than the guzheng!)

Hope our playing brings you a moment of joy!

吴非（古筝弹唱）+ Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (低音贝斯）在纽约家中排练，为二人2024年4月份在林肯中心的演出预热。

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This solo guzheng piece was recorded yesterday, inspired by a 1425 year-old poem from China by Chen Shubao 陳叔寶 (553-604), who was an emperor of the short-lived Chen Dynasty (557-589). The poem is called 玉树后庭花, which has been translated as “A Jade Tree Blossoms in the Back Garden,” but just I call it “Jade Tree.” It’s about a beautiful woman—the “back garden”—or more accurately, back courtyard—was where Emperor Chen’s concubines lived, and the poem describes a woman of “bewitching beauty .”

The poem was supposed to accompany music, however, no one wrote it down and there is no way to trace back the original melody from that long ago.

There were several scales of the guzheng that were commonly used in that era. I used one of them to create this piece, hoping to capture the essence snd sentiment of the time and the sentiment.

This recording was from one long take. It was probably the hardest type of improvisation I have ever done — coming up with a melodic structured song that is more than seven minutes, in one breath. There was not a single second that I could let go of my concentration by simply making “wall-paper” noises to fill the space. Every note needed to have a meaning in order to make into the next second, all the way to the the end of the whole seven minutes. I did not realize it was already seven minutes long when I knew the song needed to end, that my “story” had finished. It was like writing cursive calligraphy so that the entire piece is done with one stroke. In Chinese, it is called 一气呵成, which means completing in one breath, so that there is coherence in thought and unity in style. I will continue to practice this way of creating. It is challenging and extremely satisfying.

The Jade Tree poem was written by Emperor Chen Shubao 陈叔宝 (553—604 A.D.) Below is a painting of him by Yan Liben 閻立本 (600 - 673 A.D.). Source:Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Denman Waldo Ross Collection, 1931.

The Jade Tree 玉树后庭花

丽宇芳林对高阁，新籹艶质本倾城；

映户凝娇乍不进，出帷含态笑相迎，

妖姬脸似花含露，玉树流光照后庭。

Translation by John Frodsham

Fine buildings in the fragrant forest face the tall pavilions,The beauty of her newly made-up face could bring down a city wall.In the light from the door she composes herself, hesitates a moment,Comes out from the curtains, controls her feelings, welcomes me with a smile.The bewitching beauty of her face is like a dew-filled flower,The moving light from the jade tree shines on the back-garden.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

This three-voice guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday. I used all opening string harmonics in this song.

On Monday, I saw a small smooth green snake in the forest (photo below). I nearly stepped on it when I jumped over a tree trunk. The snake was angry and turned its head to be ready to defend itself, which you can see in the photo. That night, a little snow fell on Nashville, and it’s been cold since then. I hope this snake has found a safe place to hibernate for the winter.

Speaking of snakes, next year is the Year of the Snake, and I am excited to tell you that I will be performing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for their lunar new year concert!

Time: Saturday Feb 8, 2025 at 8:00PM
Venue:Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Canada

There will be pre-concert cocktail and dinner events in the Shangri-La Hotel. For event info and tickets, please visit TSO’s press release here.

多伦多交响乐团喜迎蛇年

著名嘉宾大山、吴非与陈思蕾联袂亮相，携手呈现蛇年农历新年庆典，带来一场融合音乐与文化的独特盛宴，现场还将设置亚裔加拿大人创意市集。仅此一晚，精彩不容错过！音乐会详情以及票务信息，请点击这里。

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Happy Monday everyone,

I hope you all had a restful weekend. This four-voice counterpoint guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday, inspired by the ancient Hurrian Hymn No. 6, from the area that is now Syria and Turkey (where there is currently a terrible war happening). The final notes of the piece are from a chirping bird outside my window.

It is the earliest known song to be recorded in writing, dating to around 1400 BCE. The Hurrians built cities and kingdoms from the Mediterranean Sea to Mesopotamia from about 3000 BCE to 1400 BCE, and wrote texts and music using cuneiform on clay tablets.

The lyrics of the Hymn No. 6 are about fertility, and refer to the making of offerings to the moon goddess, Nikkal.

In music theory, counterpoint is the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines (also called voices) that are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. The term originates from the Latin punctus contra punctum meaning "point against point", i.e. "note against note".

American composer and theorist John Rahn describes counterpoint as follows:

It is hard to write a beautiful song. It is harder to write several individually beautiful songs that, when sung simultaneously, sound as a more beautiful polyphonic whole. The internal structures that create each of the voices separately must contribute to the emergent structure of the polyphony, which in turn must reinforce and comment on the structures of the individual voices. The way that is accomplished in detail is ... 'counterpoint'.

Hope this piece brings you a sweet dream.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Good morning everyone,

Yesterday, I woke up to a bright pink sky. The sky was lit up. I rushed out to the balcony and stood in the chilly air not wanting to miss any second of this moment. As I looked up higher, the moon was shining quietly above the forest (photo below). Hope this piece brings you peace into your Monday.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

I have returned home from Louisville. Thank you for being patient with me again while I was on tour!

In Louisville, I saw some dear old friends and made many new friends during the Festival of Faiths. It was an inspiring experience for me to meet festival goers who came to Louisville to connect and share their life stories in the most vulnerable way. Music helped everyone to become connected instantly whether they knew each other or not. The concert venues I played were filled with laughter and tears of joy during the three days I was there. Music had unlocked so many people’s knots. I am overjoyed to be able to help many to feel uplifted and hopeful again.

A special thanks to Louisville Public Media featuring me on its NPR program WUOL - “Wu Fei brings a balance off tradition, experimentation and exploration to Louisville”. You can hear the full interview here.

Hope this piece brings you peace and hope!

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

Above is a short clip of my performance of Wusuli Boat Song opening the 28th annual celebration of Festival of Faiths in Cathedral of the Assumption on November 13th, 2024.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Good morning everyone,

Hope you all had a restful weekend. Two days ago, I was woken up by a touch of warm air on my face in the morning. I slowly opened my eyes to seek where the warmth came from. I saw the sky full of colors outside of my window (photo below). I was overjoyed. This three-track guzheng composition is my memory of this breathtaking experience. It reminded me a poem from the Weijin period 魏晋 (220 - 420 A.D.) in China written by Zhang Xie 张协:

朝霞迎白日，丹气临汤谷。

翳翳结繁云，森森散雨足。

轻风摧劲草，凝霜竦高木。

Translation:

The morning glow greets the sun, and the red air descends upon the valley.

The clouds gather thickly, and the rain falls thickly.

The breeze destroys the strong grass, and the frost shakes the tall trees.

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this solo guzheng night song yesterday thinking about my children. I used to put them to bed every night singing lullabies to them when they were babies. And then, I started to play Chopin’s piano nocturnes from a music player for their bedtime. Lately, I started singing lullabies to them again. Today, I realized that I have composed and recorded many guzheng night songs for my substack. I will play these night songs for my children’s bedtime. I hope it will help them and you all to have a good night sleep.

If you are in Louisville, Kentucky, I would love to see you at one of my concerts below:

November 13, Wednesday 1:00 - 1:30pm, Muhammad Ali Center

Wu Fei solo performance followed by Q & A, presented by Crane House and South Arts

November 13, Wednesday 5:30 - 7:00pm, Cathedral of the Assumption

Opening Ceremony of Festival of Faiths

November 14, Thursday 3:30 - 4:30pm, Louisville Main Public Library

Solo performance and workshop, presented by Louisville Academy of Musicand Crane House

November 14, Thursday 7:00 - 8:30pm Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

Performer and panelist on panel: The Art of Becoming Everyone

A big thank you to all the incredible amount of new subscribers recently, especially the new paid supporters! 谢谢🙏 And big thanks to all my subscribers from day one who’s been here with me. Every day when I sit down in front of my guzheng, I feel your energy surrounding me. It is truly magical how powerful my little platform has grown in just four years. I am grateful for your tremendous support - EVERY ONE of YOU!

Wu Fei 吴非

You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

This three-track guzheng étude was composed and recorded yesterday. An étude or study is an instrumental musical composition, usually short, designed to provide practice material for perfecting a particular musical skill. Yesterday, my music studio was cold because I forgot to turn the heater on the night before. I needed to quickly warm my fingers up. Therefore, I came up with this piece. the beauty of the guzheng is that it can sound as light as a feather, and can sound as rough as a storm. Hope this piece brings you a lot of energy to begin your day!

Wu Fei 吴非

My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp. You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

I have returned home from London. Thank you for your patience while I was absent from my daily music newsletter. However, each trip I make, I always come back with full of new energy and inspiration. The concerts I gave at the British Library and SOAS University of London were both mesmerizing. I met a musician / composer name Shohret Nur (photo below). He is a master on the dutar and rawap who is from a highly respected musical family in kasghar, Xinjiang. I got to hear him play his beautiful dutar and played with him on stage at the British Library. I was carried away by his music and his new plucking techniques on the dutar. Though the dutar only has two strings, he makes it sound like an army of strings being played at the same time. I will share more of his incredible music in the future newsletters.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday inspired by Shohret’s music. Hope it brings you a lot of energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp. You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

Hope you are all enjoying a beautiful autumn if it is the season for you right now. The colors in middle Tennessee are glorious. Hiking on the top of the west Nashville hill has given me immense joy to appreciate the fall colors in all settings. It reminds me of one of the Autumn Poems by one of my favorite Tang poets - Liu Yuxi 刘禹锡 (772 - 842 AD):

自古逢秋悲寂寥，我言秋日胜春朝。晴空一鹤排云上，便引诗情到碧霄。

Translation:

Since ancient times, people have felt sad and lonely in autumn, but I say autumn is better than spring. A crane flies above the clouds in the clear sky, bringing poetic sentiment to the blue sky.

As you listen to this piece, I will be on my way to London to have my UK solo debut at the British Library on Oct.28. Click here for concert info. And then, I will give another concert followed by Q & A on the 29th at the University of London SOAS Gallery. Click here for info.

I will resume my newsletter next weekend when I return home. Thank you all very much for your support and patience!

Wu Fei 吴非

My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp. You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

If you are in London, hope you can join me at my performance on October 28 at the British Library Pigott Theatre at 7:15pm.

The concert will be opened by two amazing Ngawang Lodup (mandolin & dranyen), Shohret Nur (dutar & rawap). There will be a grand jamming finale by the three of us, and it will be my first time playing with them. I am utterly psyched!

Tickets & detail are available here.

In the video is my chamber work Lou Lan 楼兰 being featured right now in the British Library “Into Dunhuang: Soundscapes of the Silk Road” exhibition in London. The recording is from my chamber work album YUAN on Tzadik Records, performed by Melody of China ensemble in Herbst Theatre, San Francisco. YUAN is available here.

Go see this amazing exhibition if you can. It will be running until February, 2025.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

I composed this two-track guzheng night song yesterday. Hope it helps you to have a good night’s sleep tonight.

As I’m getting ready to head to London in a week, I would like to tell you about an exciting concert residency I’ll be doing in Louisville, Kentucky in November. If you are in and near in Louisville, I would love to see you at my performances below:

November 13, Wednesday 1:00 - 1:30pm, Muhammad Ali Center

Wu Fei solo performance followed by Q & A, presented by Crane House and South Arts

November 13, Wednesday 5:30 - 7:00pm, Cathedral of the Assumption

Opening Ceremony of Festival of Faiths

November 14, Thursday 3:30 - 4:30pm, Louisville Main Public Library

Solo performance and workshop, presented by Louisville Academy of Music and Crane House

November 14, Thursday 7:00 - 8:30pm Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

Performer and panelist on panel: The Art of Becoming Everyone

Thank you your support and have a fantastic week!

Wu Fei 吴非

My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp. You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng piece yesterday. Experimenting with tone colors and timbres is one of my favorite things to do when I create music. I make a sound bath for my ear drums to enjoy all the mysterious “bubbles.” Hope this piece brings you the same experience.

If you are in London, I hope to see you at my solo performance on October 28th at the British Library Pigott Theatre, featuring two amazing guest artists:w Ngawang Lodup (mandolin and dranyen), Shohret Nur (dutar and rawap).

Door at 6pm. Concert at 7:15pm. Tickets and details please click here at the library’s site.

Have a fun and colorful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp. You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon.

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi everyone,

I composed this three-track guzheng waltz yesterday wondering about a mushroom that I saw in Nashville, Tennessee (photo below). I am not sure if it is a Caesar’s mushroom. I would appreciate your help identifying it. Thank you in advance!

Wu Fei 吴非

My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp: https://wufeimusic.bandcamp.com/

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning everyone,

Time is an interesting concept. When did we start using Monday to mark the beginning of another stressful cycle in human society? I would imagine it hasn’t been long compared to the existence of human civilization. Will this way of shaping our natural system last? I don’t think so even if I won’t see its end during my life time. As I embrace this artificial time, I am glad and lucky that I can connect to my eternal rhythm everyday through creating music. Why do I know this is truly eternal? Because it clears my brain and opens my heart every single time. Thank you for spending this moment with me.

Wu Fei 吴非

My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp: https://wufeimusic.bandcamp.com/

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

I composed and recorded this multi-track guzheng étude yesterday. I did not intend to write such an intense piece. It just came out of my chest as I was warming up my fingers more. While I was creating the music, my mind jumped back to the experience when I was on a cable car coming down from the Monserrate mountain in Bogotá, Colombia in August this year. It was above 10,000 feet (3152 meters). I had hard time catching up with my breaths when I was on the top. As the cable car exited the tunnel, I saw the spectacular sunset view of the city of Bogotá (photos below). It was breathtaking, literally. Hope this piece brings you energy into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This solo guzheng composition was recorded yesterday. I was thinking about the gorgeous fall in the southeast of U.S. where my state of Tennessee is. It has been a heavy time for eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida because of the destruction of hurricane Helene. In the next 24 hours, Hurricane Milton will land on Florida. I have many friends who live in all of the affected states. When Nashville is having a perfect day, only a few hours away, towns were wiped out and lives were lost.

My good friend / incredible fiddler Casey Driessen, who I have collaborated with many times, lives in Asheville, North Carolina, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Although his family and house survived, many of their neighbors and friends' homes were damaged or even washed away by the flood.

Casey's bluegrass band will perform an online live benefit concert in Bervard, North Carolina at 7:30 pm (EST) this Friday Oct. 11th. All donations will be used to rescue the victims who are most affected and in need.

Rescue Carolina Go Fund Me: https://tr.ee/Z-67hfkdLp

Info about the livestream performance: www.185kingst.com

I have a deep connection with North Carolina. I have toured there many times, including last year performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Chapel Hill, which I have dreamed of since I was a child. These are important moments in my musical life. North Carolina loves me, I love North Carolina.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this two-track guzheng night song yesterday. It is in the middle of the Jewish Rosh Hashanah new year celebration. I was moved and enlightened by my dear friend Rabba Daniella’s writing:

“The word love comes with pain. It comes with disappointment and loss but it also comes with a deep sense of purpose and a desire to continue to bravely choose life, to continue to bring greater goodness and honor to this world and its inhabitants.”

Hope this night song brings you peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Shana Tova and happy Friday!

This week has been so busy that my recording schedule was interrupted a little bit. Thank you for your patience! My fingers were craving to play this morning. I just recorded this piece and hope it will take you into a calm weekend.

On October 28 at 7:15pm, I am debuting my solo performance in the UK in the British Library (photo below). I’m excited to have my composition “Lou Lan” featured for the 2024 exhibition “A Silk Road Oasis – Life in Ancient Dunhuang” at the British Library. Details and tickets are available on the library’s website here.

“Lou Lan” is available on my chamber work album YUAN on Tzadik Records.

“Wu’s work evinces respect for tradition, an interest in what instruments can do, a strong sense of architecture, and good old fashioned showmanship.” — Allmusic.com review of album YUAN. Click here to read full review.

A special thank to China Database for Traditional Music 中国音网!

Hope to see you there!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

It took a few takes for me to power through this song, singing and playing. It is inspired by a Sani people’s folk song from Yunnan province in China. And then my original song Ping Tan jumped in my head. Hope this song gives you energy to start the week!

For friends in London:

Hope to see you at one of my upcoming performances in October:

October 28 The British Library Pigott Theatre

A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang.

Time: door 6:00pm. Show 7:15pm

Concert detail and tickets click here

October 29 SOAS University of London SOAS Gallery

Time: 1-2pm

Wu Fei's solo guzheng/vocal suite “Moon Hunter” draws on the singing form of ancient Chinese poetry. Fei’s original work and improvisations will be woven together with traditional guzheng repertoire, folk songs, and Chinese opera, taking inspiration and influence from the old to create the new. There will be a QA at the end.

Concert detail and tickets click here

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I composed and recorded this four-track guzheng piece yesterday. I used a bandanna in the lower register of my guzheng to half mute the strings to have less sustained effect. No finger picks were used in this piece to have a softer sound.

I was thinking of the hike I had on the Simatai Great Wall three weeks ago in Beijing, and the nearby Mandarin Duck Lake (photo below). The fog made the view look like a traditional Chinese ink painting. It was a dreamy experience for me. Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I am very excited to share with you about my upcoming two performances in London. It will be my solo debut in the U.K.. I know some of my subscribers are in London. Hope to see you at one of the performances below:

October 28, Monday 2024 The British Library Pigott Theatre

Join us for an enchanting evening as three renowned artists present a repertoire inspired by the ancient traditions of Dunhuang and the Silk Road. Ngawang Lodup (mandolin and dranyen), Shohret Nur (dutar and rawap), and Wu Fei (guzheng/voice) have contributed to the evocative soundscapes featured in the exhibition - A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang.

Time: door 6:00pm. Show 7:15pm

Concert detail and tickets click here

October 29, Tuesday 2024 SOAS University of London

Time: 1-2pm

Supported by SOAS University Library

For our very first Lunchtime Listen, the SOAS Concert Series presents renowned composer and performer Wu Fei, inside the SOAS Gallery, during the upcoming Strange Wonders: Jizi and pioneers of contemporary ink from China exhibition.

Wu Fei's solo guzheng/vocal suite “Moon Hunter” draws on the singing form of ancient Chinese poetry. Fei’s original work and improvisations will be woven together with traditional guzheng repertoire, folk songs, and Chinese opera, taking inspiration and influence from the old to create the new. There will be a QA at the end.

Concert detail and tickets click here

A special thank to Dr. Wei Xiaoshi and China Database for Traditional Music 中国音网!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

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Hi everyone,

How have you all been? I have missed you. Thank you for being so patient with me. A special thank to the new paid subscribers while I was on leave from Substack. It meant a lot to me when I received your support when I was away!

It has been an amazing trip back in China with my family though it is good to be back home in Nashville! While I was in Beijing, I got to climb the Simatai Great Wall again. This piece was recorded yesterday, inspired by this image (photo below). It was a rainy and foggy day. There were very few climbers on the wall. I enjoyed clearing my head all alone for hours.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday, inspired by the amazing clouds above mountain Monserrate. I was on my way to Valledupar from Bogotá on August 7 this year. My plane was climbing through the thick clouds on top of Bogotá. I was stunned by the view from my window - the sun, the sky, the clouds and the mountain (photo below). How much I cherish these magnificent moments from traveling! Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace.

This post is free to all my subscribers as I will be back on the road again on Thursday to China. Thank you all so much for your support and patience to my newsletter. I hope to stay in touch with you all on my social media sites while I am in Beijing. However, all the usual social media sites are blocked in China. I will resume my daily post from the week of September 16 when I am back in the U.S..

For friends in the UK, I will be in London giving solo concerts and workshop in the week of October 28. I am super excited about it. Detailed information coming soon.

Thank you all again for your support! I will miss you all very much and can’t wait to share my music in with you again!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this guzheng night song reconnecting to the night I played a concert in Riohacha two weeks ago. Riohacha is a city in northern Colombia, where the Ranchería River meets the Caribbean Sea. It’s known for its native Wayúu people and for the colorful birds in the Flamingo Sanctuary southwest of the city. Central Padilla Square is home to 19th-century Cathedral of Our Lady of the Remedies, where I gave my solo concert at (photo below). This concert was free to public. My friend Esteban, the manager of the Banco de la Republica in the city told me that it’s very difficult to gather more than three hundred people for this city. However, the cathedral was fully packed with local residents who came out to see me - possibly the very first Chinese artist who plays a traditional Chinese instrument in their city ever. It was a very steamy summer night. There was no AC in the cathedral but fans everywhere helping people to cool down. I was soaked with sweat after playing the concert. But I was so moved by the response from the audience who gave me standing ovation. There were small children to young teens, to women and men in their senior years. I was overwhelmed. Riohacha is not a very famous city outside of the Colombia. Even to some of the people I met in Bogotá hadn’t heard of Riohacha. It was a noble experience for me to represent so much more than myself to these incredibly warm people. They don’t get to see much of the world outside of Riohacha. When the world comes to them, they are hungry and thirsty to embrace and appreciate the art and beauty.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

Photo by Jeremy Goldkorn

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Hi everyone,

This three-track guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by my visit earlier this month in the historical city of Cartagena in Colombia. Strolling in the colorful and narrow streets of Cartagena on a steamy lady afternoon felt like being in an old movie (photo below). Every site I looked at was a song, a story, a book to me. May this piece bring an old or a new love story to your dream tonight.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hola everyone,

How have you all been? Hope you all have had a fun and restful summer or winter break!

I just got back home to Nashville from a tour in Colombia. It was my first visit to the South American continent ever. Before I went, I had zero idea what to expect. All I really knew about Colombia were two famous Colombian soccer stars from the 1990s from watching the World Cup on Chinese television.

Everything I experienced in Colombia over-exceeded my expectations. I fell in love with the Colombian culture — the food and the people all were beautiful, and the country’s history is much richer than I had realized.

I played concerts in Valledupar, Riohacha, Bogota, and Manizales. The concwert in Riohacha was free; the others were all sold out at least a week in advance. I received standing ovations at each concert. It was overwhelmingly touching to be welcomed by such a way. One truly amazing thing I learned that the Banco de la Repulica of Colombia that sponsored the entire national music concert season for the country including mine is one of the biggest cultural event agencies in Colombia. This is my first time ever knowing that a national bank puts its mission into bringing and producing arts to and for its people from the capital to remote towns of the Caribbean coast. So much respect to del Banco de la República!

In the coming posts, I will be sharing more photos of Colombia on my trip with you. I can’t wait to go back there to be inspired again and to visit all my lovely new amigas y amigos!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

Photo by Marco Roa in the back stage of Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango Concert Hall after my concert. I am honored to have my photo to be hung on the wall to be among all the legendary musicians around the world who have performed on this stage.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning everyone,

I just recorded this morning improvisation on solo guzheng inspired by the beautiful beach spider lily (photo below). Yesterday, I had a four-hour hike in the Montgomery Bell State Park in Tennessee where I saw these delicate flowers. The beach spider lily is native to warmer coastal regions of Latin America, Southeastern U.S. and a widely cultivated and naturalized plant in many tropical countries. As I am preparing for my first South America tour, the beach spider lily is a perfect welcome prelude to the trip! Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy to your Monday.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This two-track guzheng waltz was composed and recorded today during a rainy day. Earlier, the sweet humming bird was drinking the sugar water from the feeder. It is always meditative for me to watch them come and go as if they dance a waltz in the air. Hope this piece brings a moment of calmness into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I composed and recorded this new song with voice and on the valiha yesterday. The valiha is a traditional 21-string tube zither from Madagascar (photo below). I want to thank my dear friends Tasha and David for bringing me this beautiful gift from Madagascar to Nashville, Tennessee. Playing it makes me miss Africa and the Indian Ocean, where I have spent some very happy times.

I will be sending out newsletters to all my free subscribers for the next a few days. Starting from July 31, I will be on tour in the country of Colombia until August 15th. During that period, I won’t be able to do my daily recording. However, I will share my travel notes on Substack Notes, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

Hope this song brings you joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this solo guzheng improvisation yesterday. It is named after this elegant southeastern five-lined skink (photo below) that I saw during my hike in west Nashville. Southeastern five-lined skinks have five characteristic narrow stripes along their bodies that become lighter with age. The middle stripe tends to be narrower than the others, and the dark areas between stripes are black in young skinks but become brown with age. The one I encountered must be an older skink. Its skin was incredibly shiny, which it made a beautiful painting in the middle of the tree shadows. Hope this piece brings you a moment of calmness.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I named the piece after encountering the mountain mint in Edwin Warner Park in Nashville (photo below). Other common names included wild basil or hoary basil. It is a herbaceous perennial in the mint family. The plant is widespread across Eastern United States and into Ontario, Canada. White blooms appear from July to September. Some believe that when it is crushed, the leaves emit a strong minty aroma, and are often used to flavor teas. Wish you all a restful weekend with some mint tea if you like tea :)

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I composed and recorded two-track guzheng song yesterday in the middle a very hot day. Before I went in to the studio, I had just finished making a promotional video for my upcoming tour Colombia speaking in Spanish for the first time in my life. You can hear my joy in this track :) Hope this piece brings you joy too!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng night song this morning. It is mostly played on open string harmonics. In physics, a harmonic is a sinusoidal wave with a frequency that is a positive integer multiple of the fundamental frequency of a periodic signal. The fundamental frequency is also called the 1st harmonic; the other harmonics are known as higher harmonics.

On the guzheng, I put my left ring finger on the mid-point of a string. Then I use the right thumb to pluck the string. I get the harmonic from an octave above the pitch of the open string, which is the 1st harmonic.

I enjoy creating and mixing different timbres from the strings. The tone colors sound dreamy to me. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This fast étude was created and recorded on two-track guzheng yesterday. The wild blackberries are burning dark purple now all over the hills near my home in Nashville. They taste amazing (photo below). I don’t think I can ever eat store bought blackberries any more. They gave me great energy.

Also, I had a great interview by Daniela Jaramillo Peña (baroque guitarist) from the world renowned Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango Bogotá for music magazine Tempo for my upcoming South America debut tour in Colombia.

I am super excited to make new friends and meet new audience. And ultimately, to be inspired by the beautiful Colombian culture!

Hope to see you in these concerts:

Valledupar Thursday, August 8, 2024 Auditorium of the Rafael Carrillo Lúquez Library
Riohacha Friday, August 9, 2024 Our Lady of Remedies Cathedral
Bogotá Sunday, August 11, 2024 Concert Hall of the Luis Ángel Arango Library
Manizales Tuesday, August 13, 2024 Cultural Center of the Bank of the Republic

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I composed this two-voice guzheng minuet yesterday. The wild rosepink flowers are blossoming all over the hills of west Nashville (photos below). It always amazes me how many wild flowers blossom almost all year long in middle Tennessee. That explains why I have allergy all year long. The rosepink is native to central and eastern North America. They are usually pink with occasionally white blossoms.

A minuet is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time. The English word was adapted from the Italian minuetto and the French menuet.

The term also describes the musical form that accompanies the dance, which subsequently developed more fully, often with a longer musical form called the minuet and trio, and was much used as a movement in the early classical symphony.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I just recorded this solo guzheng improvisation today. It is a nostalgic season for me. So I wrote down one of my favorite poems written by Wang Wei 王維 (699 - 761 A.D.) of the Tang Dynasty (photo below).

The English translation is:

In the southern lands grow love peas,With spring new branches vegetate well. You may pick some more their red beans,For my ardent yearning they can best tell.

Hope this song brings old sweet memories back to you and your loved ones.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Yesterday, I went to the park for a walk. A big red-spotted purple butterfly landed in front of me on the trail. It was surprisingly brave not flying away when I stepped closer. It was flapping its gorgeous wings for about a minute as if it was waiting for me to take photos. I had to accept the invitation :) Three older ladies walked by and saw my moment with the butterfly. I told them what happened. One of ladies told me that it must be my lover from the past life. I came home thinking about it. What an interesting way to make a connection to other living beings! Then, this piece was born.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This three-track guzheng composition was composed and recorded yesterday inspired by the gorgeous sunset we had in Nashville two days ago (photo below). I was picking wild blackberries with my children in the forest after dinner. The white bowl I was holding to put the blackberries in turned orange. I looked up and saw the sky was on fire. We were stunned by this scene. Hope this piece brings you joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this guzheng improvisation yesterday during a thunder storm. The piece starts with the sound of the pouring rain outside of my home studio in Nashville. A few thunder strikes also made it to the track.

I ended the piece with the fading rain. Hope this track brings you strong and soothing energy altogether.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng étude yesterday to celebrate my 1000th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily. I launched it on May 3, 2020 during the pandemic. It has been amazing journey for me to grow my subscriber group and to connect to the whole world every day. Thank you for being here and supporting me.

This is the beginning of the next one thousand!

Meanwhile, I would like to share with you that I will have my debut South America tour, starting in Bogota in Colombia in August. I am incredibly excited about bringing my music to the people of Colombia. I will be presenting solo recitals on these dates:

August 8 in Valledupar
August 9 in Riohacha
August 11 and 12 in Bogota at the historical Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango concert hall
August 13 in Manizales

If you are in Colombia, hope to see you in one of my concerts!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This morning guzheng song was recorded yesterday, named after the American bellflower (photo below). During a hike in Edwin Warner Park in Nashville, I saw many American bellflowers along the hiking trials. The bellflower is an annual or biennial native wildflower that likes wet and humid places in shady areas of eastern North America. The bellflower is a pollinator magnet: many species of bees, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds like their nectar and pollen. Hope this piece starts your Monday with a moment of calmness.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This upbeat étude was recorded yesterday on two-track guzheng. I spotted a big wild turkey’s feather on my hike in west Nashville. It looked very firm and fresh (photo below). I wondered if there had a fight in the middle of the forest among two wild turkeys. I often see wild turkeys near my home. They used to fly away as soon as they heard me. The last two days, I saw two turkeys walking on my driveway without fleeing after they saw me. Maybe they know that this human being won’t hurt them. Hope this piece brings you a moment of fun energy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie in Chinese: 端午節). The holiday which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

There are several stories about the origins of the festival, but the most widely-told is that it commemorates Qu Yuan 屈原, a patriotic poet and minister of the kingdom of Chu during the Warring States period (475-221 BCE). Qu Yuan was a loyal advisor to the king, but he was slandered by other officials and exiled by the king.

In exile, Qu Yuan wrote poems expressing his love for his country and his concerns about its future. In 278 BCE, he learned that the Chu capital had fallen to the rival state of Qin, which “unified” China under the tyrannous leadership of the first emperor, Qin Shihuang. In despair at this news, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River, which runs from the province of Jiangxi to Hunan, the province where Mao Zedong was born.

The local people, who admired Qu Yuan for his loyalty , raced out in their boats to save him or at least retrieve his body. They threw sticky rice dumplings (zongzi 粽子) into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body. They also beat drums and splashed the water with their paddles to scare away evil spirits.

This event is believed to be the origin of the dragon boat races, and the tradition of eating zongzi during the Festival.

The popularity of dragon boat racing has exploded across the world with an estimated 50 million participants in 67 countries. There are about 175,000 participants in the U.S. and 150-plus recreational dragon boat clubs that practice regularly and compete in festivals and championships across the country and beyond. There are more than 100 dragon boat festivals in the U.S..

If you are in Nashville, please visit Dragon Boat Nashville for this year’s race on the Cumberland River!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

Photo by Cheng Feng

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Hi everyone,

This solo guzheng night song was recorded yesterday. It was an improvisation inspired by the silverleaf hydrangea (photo below). It is blossoming all over the forest along the creek side near my home in Nashville. You can hear the birds’ constant chirping in the recording.

Silver hydrangea is native to the mountainous region (usually above 2,000 feet elevation) in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains from southeast Tennessee, east to North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina, and south to northeastern Georgia of the United States. Wish you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This three-track guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday. This last week, I had a wonderful time visiting family in Austin, Texas. One of the places we went to for dinner was next to a river. People fed turtles while they waited for their tables to be ready (photo below). It was a lovely experience for me. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This two-track guzheng étude was created and recorded yesterday inspired by a bright red dewberry I saw during my morning hike on the west Nashville hills. After a speedy hike in the deep green lush forest full of spider webs, this dewberry caught my attention. It was sticking out of the low bush where I would walk by everyday. It was so red that I had to take a closer look (photo below). I kept thinking about if I could eat it for the rest my walk. Thinking slowed down my pace. I got to see so many more small and color flowers for the rest of the hike. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy into your weekend!

I will be on my way to Austin, Texas visiting family by when time you open this newsletter. My music daily will resume next Wednesday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I just composed and recorded this two-track guzheng piece an hour ago, inspired by a beautiful Luna moth in my front porch this morning (photo below). It is also called the American moon moth, or the giant silk moths.

The moth has lime-green wings and a white body. Its caterpillars are also green. Its typical wingspan is roughly 114 mm (4.5 in), but wingspans can exceed 178 mm (7.0 in), ranking the species as one of the larger moths in North America. What an incredibly graceful looking creature it is! Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into your weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

What an honor to be speaking on the Nashville Composers Panel with three of my heroes: Jeff Coffin (saxophonist of Dave Matthews Band), banjoist Béla Fleck and double bassist Edgar Meyer, moderated by Ryan Middagh (director of Jazz Studies at Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University) as part of the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers Symposium 2024.

There will be three evenings of fabulous concerts on campus. Check out the full schedule of the symposium here.

For friends in Nashville,

On May 19th Sunday, I am performing with chatterbird ensemble for their Aspiration: Live Music For Aerial Dance - a collaboration with contemporary dance company FALL. It starts at 7:30pm at Emerson Hall. Details and tickets are available here. Hope to see you there!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this vocal and guzheng improvisation yesterday with the memory of a beautiful gift I received during my artist-in-residence in Joshua Tree last month.

I played for four public elementary schools during their assemblies. It was such a heart-moving experience for me to bring music to these kids. Many of them had never seen live concerts before. We had so much fun singing together!

One little girl, maybe 6 years old, came to me at the end of the performance after everyone had left. She gave me a sweet little origami that she made for me while I was playing on stage (photo below). I was the luckiest and happiest person on earth! I put this little gift in my guzheng kit purse with me now wherever I travel to. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This two-track guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by the gorgeous aurora on top of Christchurch in New Zealand (photo below). The photo was sent from my sister-in-law from New Zealand when we were celebrating Mother’s Day to each other. The entire piece was primarily played on harmonics of the open strings. Hope it brings you a moment of peace to begin the week.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I recorded this solo vocal and guzheng improvisation yesterday, a sequel to the previous piece #973 —Sunrise song 高漠日出. I was stunned by all the rocks in Joshua Tree National Park in California two weeks ago. One type of the rocks is called Penguin rock (photo below). Hope this piece brings you a moment joy into your weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday after I took a walk in the forest near my home in Nashville and saw a bunch of cicadas (photo below).

They must be members of Brood XIX, or Brood 19.

In 1898, entomologist Charles Lester Marlatt assigned Roman numerals to 30 different broods of cicadas that come out of hibernation periodically to graze and mate and make a noise. Some do it in 13-year cycles, some in 17-year cycles.

Under Marlatt’s system, 17-year cicada broods were assigned Roman numerals I through XVII (1-17), while 13-year cicada broods were assigned XVIII through XXX (18-30). Brood XIX is a 13-year brood, which is why it has a higher number.

I’d like to share the trailer video of my concert with Shanir Blumenkranz at the Lincoln Center in New York on April 11th, released by Lincoln Center yesterday:

“Wu Fei and Shanir Blumenkranz are virtuosos of their instruments. Together, they create genre-crossing sonic landscapes as a playful duo. We crashed their soundcheck in the Atrium last month to learn more about the guzheng, oud, and gimbri.”

Check it out on Lincoln Center’s Facebook page.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.stubstack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Buddha beebalm is a two-track guzheng composition.

I wrote and recorded the pieceyesterday inspired by the eastern beebalm flower that is blossoming in the forest near my home in Nashville (photo below). The plant is native to the central and southeastern United States. The flowers of eastern beebalmproduce copious quantities of nectar which attracts bumblebees and other long-tongued bees, butterflies, beeflies and hummingbirds. The shape of the flower reminds me of the thousand-hand Guanyin buddha.

Wish you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

How have you been?

I have just returned home to Nashville after a week-long artist-in-residence at Lou Harrison House in Joshua Tree, California. This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday inspired by this amazing trip.

Here’s a little background about Lou Harrison and Harrison House:

Lou Harrison (1917–2003) was an American composer, music critic, painter, and creator of unique musical instruments. He initially wrote in an ultramodernist style similar to his former teacher, Henry Cowell, but later moved toward incorporating elements of non-Western cultures into his work.

He composed for Javanese style gamelan instruments after studying with noted gamelan musician Kanjeng Notoprojo in Indonesia. Harrison also created his own musical ensembles and instruments with his partner, William Colvig.

Harrison House Music, Arts & Ecology is a residency and performance program for international artists and environmental activists established in 2006. Tucked away in the desert landscape near the border of Joshua Tree National Park, the composers’ cave Harrison built for himself and his friends in 2002 still inspires artists and audiences, including me.

I was honored to be welcomed by Lou Harrison House as new member of this historical artist community. Inspired by the breathtaking nature of Joshua Tree, I played with my dear friend, composer and guitarist Gyan Riley and gave performances to four public elementary schools of Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley Counties.

Big thanks to music legend Victoria Williams for letting me use her beautiful traditional guzheng stands for my concert.

I look forward to go back to be inspired all over again! Please see photos below from this trip.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This three-track guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by the sunset colors in Nashville last night (photo below). Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into your weekend.

If you are in Southern California, I will be doing a week-long artist residency at Lou Harrison House in Joshua Tree next week. I hope to see you at my concert on April 25th with 2023/24 Composer-in-Residence, Gyan Riley.

Tickets are available: www.louharrisonhouse.org

My daily music will resume on April 29th. Thank you for your support and patience! If you follow me on Substack Notes, Instagram or Facebook, I will be posting there during my California residency. More announcements of tours, concerts, and events will be shared here after my return.

Have a wonderful week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This solo guzheng night song was recorded yesterday, inspired by the fire pink flowers and the birds in the forest of west Nashville. The fire pink is a wildflower in the pink family and native to North America. It is known for its distinct brilliant red flowers. Fire pink begins blooming in late spring and continuing throughout the summer. I wish my camera could capture the amazing redness of this delicate flower (photo below).

I also want to send my appreciation to all of you, especially the paid subscribers! I truly means so much to receive your generosity so that I can continue to produce the music I want to make and share with you. Our life is short. Every day counts. It makes me happy that I can connect to you in this intimate way so that we can enjoy a moment of joy everyday.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This multi-track guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday, the Qingming Festival 清明节.

The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day and Ancestors' Day, is a traditional Chinese festival observed by ethnic Chinese in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. A celebration of spring, it falls on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This makes it the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, either 4, 5 or 6 April in a given year. During Qingming, Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites and make ritual offerings to their ancestors. Offerings would typically include traditional food dishes and the burning of joss sticks, joss paper, incense and paper money.

Meanwhile, the first wild sweet azalea has started to blossom on the hills of west Nashville. They are native to North America. The sweet azalea has white blooms, dark green foliage and is very fragrant (photo below). As I was admiring their beauty, I suddenly remembered that it was Qingming Festival. I want to send my wishes to you, wish you peace and comfort during this time of remembrance.

Starting from this weekend, I will traveling to Chicago for my solo recital residency on April 7-8 at the University of Chicago. And I will continue on to New York City next week for my debut performance at Lincoln Center on April 11.

Chicago Presents Wu Fei Solo Recital

April 7, Sunday | 3pm CDT Concert | 6pm Masterclass open to public and Music Department of University of Chicago Venue: Logan Center Performance Hall, Chicago. Info and tickets click here.
April 8, Monday | 1pm CDT Lunch Talk

Venue: International House of Assembly Hall, University of Chicago. Info and register here.

Lincoln Center, NYC — Wu Fei and Shanir Blumenkranz

April 11, Thursday | 7:30pm EDT

I am excited to have guest musician Shanir Blumenkranz joining me. This concert will be live streamed on all Lincoln Center’s video platforms. I am honored to be among Lincoln Center’s selected concerts to be live streamed! Info and tickets click here.

My daily music will resume on the week of April 15. Thank you all for your support!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This solo guzheng étude was created and recorded yesterday to celebrate the first swim of the year!

For friends in New York City, hope to see you at this concert of mine below:

Lincoln Center, NYC — Wu Fei and Shanir Blumenkranz

April 11, Thursday | 7:30pm EDT

I am excited to have a phenomenal guest musician - Shanir Blumenkranz (Silk Road Ensemble) to join me on the oud, double bass and gimbri.

This concert will be live streamed on all Lincoln Center’s video platforms. I am honored to be among Lincoln Center’s selected concerts to be live streamed.

Info and tickets reservation click here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei's Music Daily! Your support is immensely appreciated whether you have been with me from my first episode on May 3, 2020 or from yesterday.

I love this time of the year in Nashville. Everyday is a new day with new flowers, wild animals, and sunshine in the forest. I spotted Carolina spring beauties on my hike yesterday. How elegant they are (photo below)! I came straight to my studio and composed this multi-track guzheng piece once I came down from the hills.

For friends in Chicago,

I am so excited to be back to your amazing city again! This time, I am honored to give my solo “Moon Hunter” Chicago premiere on April 7 at 3pm at Logan Center Performance Hall, presented by UChicago Presents. Details and ticket info, click here.

On April 8 at 1pm, I will give a short performance and lunch speak at the International House Assembly Hall followed by QA moderated by Anna Schultz, Associate Professor of Music and the Humanities at the University of Chicago. We will discuss my chamber orchestral work “Hello Gold Mountain” and my growth as an artist and immigrant as I discuss the relationship of my “mother tongue” in music from the birth-motherland (China) and the development of a “new tongue” in my adopted-motherland (United States). Registration for this event is required. Click here to resister.

Meanwhile, I would like to share a few older episodes with you. It took me a while to sort them out :) Since its launch on May 3, 2020, I have published 955 pieces of original music along with my writing and photography about nature, daily life, Chinese culture, and places I have travelled to.

Episode #949 - Love locks of Gent 根特爱情锁

Improvised and recorded on March 20, 2024.

This piece is one of Wu Fei’s latest posts after a week-long residency at Handelsbeurs Concert in Gent, Belgium, where she premiered her new project - the House of Wu Fei.

Episode #597 - Wooden arrows of Chicago 芝加哥木箭

Composed and recorded on June 9, 2022

This multi-track guzheng recording was inspired by a concert at the historical Arts Club of Chicago.

Episode #178 - Mount Slingshot 弹弓山歌

Composed and recorded on October 29, 2020

This multi-track piece features prepared guzheng and Fei’s vocals. Fei used elastic hair bands on the strings. The sound that gives the percussive noise in the recording is from her pulling the rubber bands which then bounced back to the strings.

Episode #888 - Stream beneath 浣溪沙

Improvised and recorded on November 13, 2023

This was a guzheng composition created after a tour in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Fei was glad to be back home after being on the road, and created a moment of calmness after finishing an intense schedule.

Episode #938 - Guzheng, frogs and wind 筝，蛙，风 with video

Created and filmed on February 15, 2024

A solo improvisation that Wu Fei played with the frog choir in the spring sun, accompanied by the wind that made her guzheng whistle. An airplane joined them in the middle. It was a great collaboration!

For my concerts & tour info, please visit www.wufeimusic.com

Have a fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This piece was a two-track guzheng work built on the harmonics of the open strings. Yesterday, my daughter took me to a spot in the forest where she saw a new kind of blossom for the first time (photo below). They are wild cherry blossoms. One thing I’ve learned living in nature is that wild flowers change every spring. There will always be new blossoms that we never had before. So every year, we excitedly wait for the flowers’ debuts, and we got one already. You can hear the birds sounding quite happy in the recording too :)

For friends in Chicago and New York City, and Southern California, I am so excited about these upcoming concerts:

Chicago Presents Wu Fei Solo Recital

April 7, Sunday | 3pm CDT Logan Center Performance Hall, Chicago.

Info and tickets click here.

Lincoln Center, NYC — Wu Fei and Shanir Blumenkranz

April 11, Thursday | 7:30pm EDT

I am excited to have guest musician Shanir Blumenkranz joining me.

This concert will be live streamed on all Lincoln Center’s video platforms. I am honored to be among Lincoln Center’s selected concerts to be live streamed!

Info and tickets reservation click here.

Lou Harrison House, Joshua Tree, California — Wu Fei with special guest Gyan Riley

April 25, Thursday | 8pm PDT

Info and tickets click here

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday, inspired by an evening walk I had with friends a week ago in Gent, Belgium.

After a meal at an Italian restaurant (owned by an amazing chef from southern Italy), my friends and musical collaborators Sarah Yu Zeebroek and Geoffrey Burton took me for a stroll. In the gorgeous medieval city of Gent (also spelled Ghent), many offices, homes and stores are inside castles and stone buildings. On the riverside, there is a tiny house in between two big stone buildings from hundreds of years ago (photo below). I stood there and pictured myself living in that cute little house.

For friends in Chicago and New York City, and Southern California, I am so excited to give these concerts back to back:

Chicago Presents Wu Fei Solo Recital

April 7, Sunday | 3pm CDT Logan Center Performance Hall, Chicago.

Info and tickets click here.

Lincoln Center, NYC — Wu Fei and Shanir Blumenkranz

April 11, Thursday | 7:30pm EDT

I am excited to have guest musician Shanir Blumenkranz joining me.

This concert will be live streamed on all Lincoln Center’s video platforms. I am honored to be among Lincoln Center’s selected concerts to be live streamed!

Info and tickets reservation click here.

Lou Harrison House, Joshua Tree, California — Wu Fei with special guest Gyan Riley

April 25, Thursday | 8pm PDT

Info and tickets click here

April will be awesome! I can’t wait to see my dear old friends and make new friends. Have a fantastic weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

How have you been? I am back in Nashville from Belgium. I am enjoying the sunny spring day in Tennessee though I do miss the wonderful collaborations I had during my residency at Handelsbeurs Concert in Gent. It was so lovely to see old friends and meet new friends. The House of Wu Fei has been born and I can’t wait to bring this project to other places in the world!

Today I recorded this piece while listening to the birds in the forest. Hope it brings you joy. Stay tuned for announcements for my upcoming concerts in Chicago and New York City in April!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com

House of Wu Fei (L-R):

Simon Segers (percussion) + Louise van de Heuvel (bass) + DIJF David Sanders (electronic). Thank you for sharing your talent, humor, laughter and a whole week to make magic with me!

I want to thank Wim Wabbes (R) for his immense support from conceiving the idea with me to a grand execution with his brilliant team at Handelsbeurs Concerts in Gent. What a dream team!

Can’t wait for our reunion and stay tuned, this is the beginning of House of Wu Fei!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I have missed you all! My concert residency at the Yale Schwarzman Center last week was inspiring. I met many new friends from giving presentations at:

The Cooperative Arts & Humanities Magnet High School
Yale School of Music students
Yale’s Asian American Cultural Center
New Haven Chinese Cultural Cooperative

I was also given an eye opening tour at the Wu Tsai Institute of Yale where the most cutting edge science research is happening. And the food at Chef Jiang Restaurant was just amazing😋 ! I want to send my special thanks to:Lely Evans for letting me use her beautiful guzheng and traditional stands, and letting me have her guzheng travel case for my up in tours.Dr. Sam McDougle for letting me see the fascinating facility of the Wu Tsai Institute.

If you are in Belgium, Netherlands or France, I would love to see you at my concerts that going to take place from March 11-17, presented by Ha Concerts in Ghent. More info here. One more concert has been added to this tour. It will be at KAAP in Oostende, Belgium on March 17. Details and tickets for this concert are here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

Virginia spring beauties welcome me back to Nashville.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on two-track guzheng. By the time you open this newsletter, I will be on my way to New Haven, Connecticut.

On March 2, Saturday, 7:30-9:00pm, I am giving a concert with my dear music collaborator Abigail Washburn at the Yale Schwarzmen Center. More details here.

You can hear our album “ Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn” on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Vinyl, CD and digital formats are all available.

As of today, the general admission of the concert has been sold out. However, there is a waitlist for it according to the ticket website. If you are within Yale’s system (students, faculty and staff), there may still be spots left for the Yale Advance Registration option to attend the concert.

Hope this piece brings you fun energy into the weekend! I will resume my daily music on March 4th as I will be busy giving workshops and preparing for the concert in the next few days. Thank you for your support!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This three-voice guzheng composition was recorded yesterday, the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration. Last night, the bright moon rose high and lit up the entire forest (photo below). It was the first full moon of the Year of the Wood Dragon.

Spring is the season to plant seeds. I am excited to share my new music residency that will take place in Europe from March 10-18, 2024. For friends who are in or near Belgium, I am premiering two new projects with some of the most envelope-pushing artists in Ghent. Click on the links below for details:

Meet Wu Fei Première at the Made in China Festival (Interview in English and Dutch by Stijn Buyst)
House of Wu Fei: Tides and Time , a creation with my fellow players:

DIJF explored the music of Java, Nepal and most recently Georgia, and made wondrous soundtracks with them.

Simon Segers percussionist and drummer(De Beren Gieren, STADT, Black Flower etc.) treads paths between free, jazz and rock and developed a very personal style.

Louise van den Heuvel breathtakingbassist who just released her new single is greedy for all things adventure.

Wu Fei, Sarah Yu Zeebroek and Geoffrey: Memory & Remembrances Wu Fei, Sarah Yu Zeebroek, Geoffrey Burton (music)Dong Yingda (visual artist - calligraphy)

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This piece was created and recorded yesterday February 22, 2024. Nine years ago on this day, my husband and I and our two babies moved to the United State from Beijing, China. Our daughter was two and half years old, and our son was only three months old.

It has been an amazing nine years making Nashville our home. My parents also joined us from China just before the pandemic, and they live here with us now. Ups and downs are inevitable, but all I feel at this stage of my life is grateful. Countless kind people have helped me and my family as colleagues, neighbors, and friends in real life and online. Having an amazing life partner to walk this life together is the best gift I’ve ever received. I want to thank you all for being there with me supporting my music since the beginning of our relationship whether from real life or just as new subscribers since yesterday , paid and free! Thank you.

Lastly, I would like to share my daughter’s poem that was written on February 19 for her school. It is called Lost Child, inspired by another poem called Mother to Son by Langston Hughes.

Lost Child

There are many a lost child in this ever growing world.

Some float about, never to land, others eaten up by sea or by sand.

But some do survive, unsurprisingly so, and they make for themselves a comfortable home.

Those who sprout, grow, show their head, must be careful of those who would hurt them instead.

Those who are lucky continue to grow, and soon their strength will begin to show.

Now settled in their homes, they bring a new generation, to wander the land with new determination.

These children, quite old now, a beautiful age, have started to turn to their very last page.

They dig in their roots, and gazing out to sea, they reflect their beginnings,

a seedling.

A tree.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

I created and recorded this three-track guzheng composition yesterday inspired by the spring energy in the forest. Everything is coming back to life. Last week, I saw a frozen snake waking up from hibernation. It just lay there not moving (in photo) waiting to become softer and warmer. What a process one’s life can be!

“The plan for the year lies in the spring” 一年之计在于春 as the old Chinese wisdom guides me. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This guzheng étude was created and recorded yesterday. I designed a new scale to try different tone colors. My hands played an octave apart mostly striking the same pitches with occasional different pitches. When the pitch changed unexpectedly, there was a delayed surprise in my hearing. At the same second, it triggered me to shift volume from one hand to the other. I felt like a pendulum — I suspended my body from a fixed point to swing back and forth under the influence of the sound waves.

I would also like to share the info of my upcoming concert residency with Abigail Washburn at the Schwarzman Center at Yale University on 7:00 - 9:00PM on March 2, 2024. Concert details are available here. If you or your friends are in New Haven, we’d love to see you at the concert!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

This piece was written and recorded yesterday. It will be the last one before the lunar new year changes to the Year of the Wood Dragon on Saturday, February 10! You can hear my excitement in the piece.

The dawn sky yesterday morning was magnificent (photo below). I truly hope the new year will bring much more peace, health and laughters to you all! 祝大家龙年吉祥如意，事事顺心。See you next year! 龙年见。

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I have missed you all very much! The residency in Winnipeg last week was an absolute delight! I met so many people and made new friends who came to both of my concerts. Winnipeg is a very special place and I’d love to present my work there again.

Please see the photos (some are from my phone, some are sent by audience members):

Judith Lavitt (born in Shanghai in 1941), left China with her parents when she was 7 years old. Now she lives in Winnipeg. Hello Gold Mountain has received Judith’s blessing. I want to send my special thanks to Faith Beckman Goldman in Los Angeles for sharing my concert info with her dear friend Judith. Faith’s late husband was also a Shanghailander Jew who went to school with Judith in Shanghai during the second war.
Standing ovation moment with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to an audience member who sent me this photo on Instagram.
Post-concert talk between the audience and the featured composers, performers, and conductor Daniel Raiskin.
Shanir Blumenkranz (my dear friend, and oud player for Hello Gold Mountain) and I were getting ready for the dress rehearsal with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
With host Simeon Rusnak at Radio Classic 107FM after my live interview
Solo recital at the Winnie Art Gallery. Photo by Herman Lee
My encore after the solo recital. I stood the guzheng up and sang into the sound holes.
Look who came to my recital! Renowned American composers: Julia Wolfe and Courtney Bryan. Their pieces were performed by the Winnipeg Symphony last Friday as the grand finale concert of the Winnipeg New Music Festival. I was star struck.
New friends I made from Virtuosi Concerts and the Manitoba Great Wall Performing Arts. They all came to both of my concerts in Winnipeg. I am very honored.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Yesterday, I hiked up the hill in the morning at the lowest temperature that I have ever experienced in Nashville: -14 Celsius or 6.8 degrees Fahrenheit. It was beautiful to see the white forest under the sun and the clouds (photo below). I stood at this spot and thought about the rewards of doing something difficult.

I hope this piece brings you a moment of joy.

My Canada debut is coming up next week. I will be giving two concerts and several composition master classes during this tour.

Concert 1:

My work Hello Gold Mountain is having its Canadian premiere by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. I will be performing in this concert with oud master Shanir Blumenkranz.

Time and venue: Jan. 31, 2024, 7:30pm at Centennial Concert Hall

Tickets: https://my.wso.ca/2979

Concert 2:

Wu Fei Solo Recital - Moon Hunter presented by Virtuosi Concerts

Time and venue: February 1 at 7:30pm at the Muriel Richardson Auditorium, Winnipeg Art Gallery

Tickets: https://virtuosiconcerts.ca/moon-hunter

I am honored to be among the global talents featured in the Winnipeg New Music Festival!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I am snowed in in Nashville. It is the biggest snowfall since I have been living here. It is -9 Celsius now in the middle of the day. I hope you are all staying warm or cool wherever you are!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I composed this multitrack guzheng piece yesterday, performed by me. I was inspired by a poem written by Li Bai (701 - 762 A.D.), one of the most famous Chinese poets from the Tang Dynasty. The poem is called The Waterfall of Mount Lu 望廬山瀑布:

日照香爐生紫煙，遙望瀑布掛前川。

飛流直下三千尺，疑是銀河落九天。

My translation:

Sunlight shines on the incense burner and illuminates its purple smoke In the distance there is a waterfallThe water tumbles straight down three thousand feetAs if the Milky Way has tumbled down to earth

I’d also like to tell you about my upcoming concerts in Canada (flyer below, solo concert venue corrected). It will be my debut in Canada as part of the Winnipeg New Music Festival. It will be the Canada premiere of Hello Gold Mountainwith the Winnipeg Symphony. I am really excited! If you are in Winnipeg or have friends and family there, I’d love to see you at my concerts,

Info for Hello Gold Mountain Canada premiere with the Winnipeg Symphony on January 31st, please visit Winnipeg New Music Festival.
Info for Wu Fei Moon Hunter Solo Recital on February 1st at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, please visit Virtuosi Concerts.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Happy holidays to you all! By the time you receive this newsletter, I will be on my way to New Zealand to be with family members in the southern hemisphere. It has been another wonderful year for me sharing my daily thoughts and music with you. Thank you for being here with me, and I hope my music has brought joy to your life.

I made this medley recording yesterday. All the folk melodies are from my childhood, beginning with me singing a song from the repertoire of Beijing Chaqur 北京岔曲儿, a form of traditional narrative singing from China’s capital. The song is called Ignorance is bliss 憨人多快乐. Later in the piece, I play my original piece Little Tree that I composed in Beijing about thirteen years ago. And then a lullaby jumped back in my memory. It must be the holiday season that makes me remember all these old tunes.

I’d also like to tell you about about my upcoming concerts in Canada (flyer below). It will be my debut in Canada as part of the Winnipeg New Music Festival. It will be the Canada premiere of Hello Gold Mountain with the Winnipeg Symphony. I am really excited! If you are in Winnipeg or have friends and family there, I’d love to see you at my concerts,

Info for Hello Gold Mountain Canada premiere with Winnipeg Symphony on January 31st, please visit Winnipeg New Music Festival.
Info for Wu Fei Moon Hunter Solo Recital on February 1st, please visit Virtuosi Concerts.

While I travel in New Zealand with families for the next two weeks, I will do my best do share music and writing as much as I can. Regular daily newsletter will be resumed after January 5, 2024. Wish you all a wonderful holiday! 新年快乐！

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I want to thank the new paid subscribers in the last week! Your support is very much appreciated it!

This new two-track guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday. I was inspired by playing with a dear friend - a banjo maser Béla Fleck last week in Nashville where we both call home. It was a rare occasion that we got to just improvise as a duo. Banjo has five strings. In this recording, I played in 5/8, which means that you count 1 2 3 4 5 with the eighth note getting the beat.

Music in the time signature of five is not common in the main stream traditional, classical or pop/folk music. However, in many cultures like in Southeast Asia, Africa, the Balkan, India, the Middle East and Central Asia, you can five a lot. One famous work that is written in 5/4 (the quarter note getting the beat) is the second movement of Tchaikovsky’s 6th symphony aka Pathétique Symphony. It is a waltz, but uses 5/4 to give an asymmetric “1 and 2 and 3, 1 and 2” pattern. Mars from The Planets, by Holst, uses 5/4.

It is a day to balance on fives!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

I just recorded this guzheng night song. You might hear my husband opening and closing his car door at the end — I decided to just leave the noise in as a part of my improvisation.

I’d also like to tell you about a concert I’ll be playing next year on March 14, 2024 in Ghent, Belgium. You can buy tickets here; the concert description is below.

House of Wu Fei: Tides and Time

The première of a new creation by Wu Fei (guzheng, vocals), Mattias De Craene (sax), Dijf Sanders (electronics), Louise van den Heuvel (bass)

Every day, sea coasts around the world go through the cycle of high and low tides. From high to low and from low to high, every 12 hours and 25 minutes. Again and again. The forces of the moon have been doing their thing for centuries.

Chinese guzheng player Wu Fei is inspired by them. During the Made in China Festival, she will travel to Ghent for a week of creating with an impressive bunch of musicians:

Dijf explored the music of Java, Nepal, and most recently Georgia and made wondrous soundtracks with them.

Saxophonist Mattias De Craene just returned from Morocco where he immersed himself in Gnawa rituals.

Dishwasher bassist Louise van den Heuvel is greedy for all things adventurous.

This wonderful amalgam of influences and musically extraordinary personalities cannot but result in a wondrous concert.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday, twelve hours after a massive tornado that tore across middle-north Tennessee. We were lucky (again) that the tornado missed our area by not too far. Two suburbs of Nashville -Clarksville and Hendersonville were hit the worst, Lives were lost and houses were destroyed. I was driving to pick up my daughter from a friend’s house when the state-wide tornado alert screamed out of my cellphone telling people to take shelter immediately. A tornado was on the ground! We got home safely following my husband’s texts. He was able to direct me via a local live-weather YouTube channel (@NashSevereWx on X and YouTube) to take the southern route to come home. At the time, none of the us had any idea how destructive the tornado was. A million thanks to the guys at Nashville Severe Weather. Their work saves lives!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hanukkah sameach! This solo guzheng night song was created and recorded during the sunset of Dec.7th as we entered this year’s Hanukkah. Wish you all a stronger year ahead with health, wisdom and joy!

If you are in Nashville, I’d like to share a performance that I’ll be part of as my last public concert of 2023.

Wednesday, 12/13, 7pm at Tempo

Address: 2179 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37311

There will be a special guest who is a world renowned picker at the show. We will be shredding strings!

Hope to see y’all there!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning everyone,

This three-track prepared guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday. Prepared instrument is when musical instruments whose timbre has been altered by placing various objects (preparations) on or between the instrument's vibrating strings (or other sound source). I put seven metal key chain rings on seven different strings in the middle register and a cotton banana in the low register in this piece. I also tried new finger picks on for this recording. They were fantastic!

On Tuesday, December 5th, I am excited to join an online event of the "Creativity and Collaboration in Transnational Chinese Music", part of the Conversation in Creative Practice series organized by the Department of Music, SOAS University of London.

Time: Tuesday December 5, 2023 at 3-5pm GMT (EST 10am | CST 9am | MST 8am | PST 7am) in Room G52 (SOAS main building).

We will discuss our latest work, aspects of collaborations, transnational identities, and the future of Chinese music with faculty members at SOAS, Dr. Xiaoshi Wei and Prof. Rachel Harris.

In person or Zoom attendance is welcome.Please find below the Zoom details:

https://soas-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/96572231055?pwd=M0ZzUXI4RXFGalhlbEVVMTdjY05ZZz09

Meeting ID: 965 7223 1055

Passcode: wa7uh2qrR1

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

Last week, I had the honor to meet the legendary trumpeter / composer Wadada Leo Smith during his residency at Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music in Nashville, TN.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

It is my pleasure to invite you to the "Creativity and Collaboration in Transnational Chinese Music", part of the Conversation in Creative Practice series organized by the Department of Music, SOAS University of London.

It’s on Tuesday December 5, 2023 at 3-5pm GMT (EST 10am | CST 9am | MST 8am | PST 7am) in Room G52 (SOAS main building). I will be remotely joining composer Yi-Chen Chang on Zoom. We will discuss our latest work, aspects of collaborations, transnational identities, and the future of Chinese music with faculty members at SOAS, Dr. Xiaoshi Wei and Prof. Rachel Harris.

In person or Zoom attendance is welcome.Please find below the Zoom details:

https://soas-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/96572231055?pwd=M0ZzUXI4RXFGalhlbEVVMTdjY05ZZz09

Meeting ID: 965 7223 1055

Passcode: wa7uh2qrR1

Biographies:

Yi-Chen Chang is a Taiwanese-born musician whose interests include Western art music, jazz, and musical traditions across Eurasia. Chang has studied in Xinjiang, Seoul and America, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in composition at NEC. She is a long-standing composer for Taiwan's major Chinese Orchestras, and her works have been nominated for and won Taiwan's Golden Melody Award in both Traditional Arts and Pop divisions.

Wu Fei is a Beijing-born classically trained composer, singer, and guzheng player. She studied composition at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing, and at Mills College in Oakland, California. She composes for choir, string quartet, chamber ensemble, and Balinese gamelan. She has released several albums, including “Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn”. Her chamber orchestral work “Hello Gold Mountain,” inspired by the stories of Jewish refugees, earned a MAP Fund award in 2018.

“Conversation in Creative Practice” is organized by the Music Department at SOAS University of London once a term, with the aim to invite performers and composers from diverse backgrounds for discussion about their work with SOAS faculty members.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This multitrack guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by one of my favorite poems from the Song Dynasty in China: Water Melody 水调歌头, written by Su Shi 苏轼 (1037 - 1101 A.D.) on the Moon Festival in the year of 1076 A.D..

My calligraphy (photo below) follows the traditional order of Chinese writing, fromtop to bottom and right to left. The four bigger characters on the right are the title of the poem.

Translation:

When will the moon be clear and bright? With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the clear sky. In the heavens on this night, I wonder what season it would be?

I'd like to ride the wind to fly home. Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions are much too high and cold for me. Dancing with my moonlit shadow, it does not seem like the human world.

The moon rounds the red mansion. Stoops to silk-pad doors, shine upon the sleepless. Bearing no grudge. Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?

People experience sorrow, joy, separation and reunion. The moon maybe dim or bright, round or crescent shaped. This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time. May we all be blessed by longevity.

Though thousands of miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all,

As the United States entering the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to send my appreciation to you for the support for my work either from May 3, 2020 when I launched my daily music on Substack, or from yesterday as a new subscriber. I am grateful for connecting to you everyday in this very special way. It amazes me that I receive new subscriptions everyday from all over the world. I tune myself from touching my strings every morning. When I touch the strings on my guzheng, I touch my childhood. It is powerful to be that child of yourself again. There is an abundance of stuff in our daily life. Having lesser of the stuff creates more space for us to stay tuned to ourselves. I will take the rest of the week off to be with family and friends. If you are in the U.S., wish you a happy and peaceful thanksgiving. Travel safe!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This three-track night song was created and recorded on guzheng and valiha yesterday, performed by me. The guzheng is a traditional Chinese 21-string zither and valiha is a traditional tune zither from Madagascar.

The photo below is my mother in Beijing in 1973. She was 25 years old and visiting her family briefly. Between 1969-1975, my mother was one of the 17 millions of sent-down youth during China’s Cultural Revolution. Those young people were sent to rural areas to be “re-educated” by peasants as a result of the movement. For six years, she lived in a remote town 2000 miles away from home called Xishuangbanna in the extreme south of Yunnan Province, bordering both Myanmar and Laos. My father saw this photo from a mutual family friend who matched them. He fell in love with her instantly. Two years later, they met in person for the first time when my mother moved back to Beijing for good when the Cultural Revolution ended. The next year, they got married.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of sweetness.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Kilometer zero was composed and recorded yesterday on two-track guzheng. The term is also written km 0. In many countries, kilometer zero is a term which distances are traditionally measured and some use this as their official country location or coordinates for faster search at space satellites, this is also used for measuring distances between different countries around the world. Historically, they were markers where drivers could set their odometers to follow the directions in early roaming guide books.

One such marker is the Milliarium Aureum ("Golden Milestone") of the Roman Empire, believed to be the literal origin for the maxim that "all roads lead to Rome".

In November 2011, I stood in front of the kilometer zero point of China in Beijing (photo below). It was at Tiananmen Square, just outside the Zhengyangmen Gate. It is marked with a plaque in the ground, with the four cardinal points, four animals, and "Zero Point of Highways, China" in English and Chinese. Behind me, it was Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall. It is in the southern (main) gate of the Imperial City during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all,

Thank you for being patient for me to resume my daily music. I have come home safely from a wonderful tour in: Decorah, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stoughton, Wisconsin.

I got to play in beautiful and legendary venues for the first time, and made many new friends. How humbled I am for the support and love from everyone! I want to send my deepest gratitude to my music collaborator Abigail Washburn, tour manager Aaron Walters, my team Judson Management & Halac Artists Management, the staff members from Luther College, The Cedar Cultural Center, The Stoughton Opera House, and all the fans who bought tickets and packed the venues. Several of them flew from other states to come to see the shows.

I am glad to be back home now after being on the road. Hope this solo guzheng improvisation brings a moment of calmness as it did to me.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all,

I just recorded this solo guzheng improvisation after packing my gears for a midwest tour. Thank you all again for your tremendous support to my music daily! If you are in one of the cities below, I’d love to see you at the concerts:

Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn will bring their banjo-guzheng cross-cultural musical mind meld to:

Nov 09: Luther College, Decorah, IA

Nov 10: The Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN

Nov 11: Stoughton Opera House, Stoughton, WI

Tickets can be found here.

I will resume my daily music newsletter as soon as I return home in Nashville next Monday.

Have a wonderful week and stay warm!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all,

This piece was composed and recorded on the valiha and my vocal today. The beautiful valiha belong to two dear friends of mine in Nashville. They have generously let me play their valiha for me to explore more sonic vocabulary. This is the 4th night song I’ve composed on this instrument.

The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo; it is considered the "national instrument" of Madagascar. One of the most celebrated valiha players of the twentieth century is Rakotozafy (born 1938). The majority of Rakotozafy's few recorded performances were made live at the central studio of Malagasy Radio. Sylvestre Randafison is another celebrated valiha artist considered a cultural icon in Madagascar.

The instrument has been held in high regard among the Malagasy particularly in the Merina rule over the island that having long fingernails ideal for plucking its strings were marks "distinguishing the aristocracy from the laborers". Aside from playing for fun, the valiha is also used for ritual music to summon spirits. In today’s piece, I didn’t intend to add my vocal when I began creating. However, I felt that the strings needed a companion besides the plucking. It felt right to me at the end.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all,

This guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday, inspired by a painting from the Five Dynasties (907 - 979) period of China (photo below). I have been doing some research on ancient plucked instruments from different cultures including the history of my instrument - guzheng. It has been utterly fascinating to discover so much connections of all the zithers, harps, lutes etc. around the world.

The painting below is from 1167 years ago, during The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was an era of political upheaval and division in Imperial China. Five dynastic states quickly succeeded one another in the Central Plain, and more than a dozen concurrent dynastic states, collectively known as the Ten Kingdoms, were established elsewhere, mainly in South China. It was a prolonged period of multiple political divisions in Chinese imperial history.

In the painting, the two double-reed wind instruments (vertically played) in the back center, the pipa in the front (the rounded lute, left to the guzheng) came from Central Asia and the Middle East before this period. By the time of the Five Dynasties, they had become standard instruments in the court ensembles. Later, all of these instruments made to Korea and Japan. It makes me happy to see how long, how wide and how far these instruments had made across lands, times, and cultures. To this day, they continue to move our hearts and bring us joy.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This solo guzheng night song was recorded yesterday, performed by me. It has been cloudy in Nashville the past a few days. The sunlight gets squeezed through the cracks of the thick clouds when there is a chance. The layered colors of the trees change constantly (photo below). It reminds me of a section of the Song Cí (宋词) poem — Shui Diao Ge Tou (水调歌头) by poet Sū Shì (苏轼 1037-1011).

Shui Diao Ge Tou is the name of a traditional Chinese melody to which a poem in the cí (词) style can be sung. Different poets have written different lyrics to the melody which are usually prefixed by this melody's title. This one is my favorite.

Cí (词) is one of the literary genres that are unique to the Song dynasty (960-1279), and can be sung to melody. Many ancient melodies are lost to history, but modern composers often compose new melodies for cí.

“我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人間！”

Translation:

“I'd like to ride the wind to fly home. Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions are much too high and cold for me. Dancing with my moonlit shadow, it does not seem like the human world!”

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

A year ago, I was on tour in Europe with a group of amazing European musicians. When we transferred trains in Cologne Central Station to Brussels, I was stunned by the Cologne Cathedral and the architecture of the station (photo below). This piece was a vivid memory of what I felt standing by the train tracks watching trains passing by. Hope this piece brings you a moment of energy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This piece was inspired by the crabapple flower in the forest near my home. Crabapples usually only blossom in early April and for only ten days or no more than two weeks. This year has been strange. This crabapple tree started flowering in late summer unexpectedly. Since then, the dozen flowers have been standing proudly (photo below) even after most the leaves fell off. I’m stunned by its toughness and beauty.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This three-track guzheng fugue was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. Although the autumn has arrived in Nashville, the flowers in the forest are blooming as gloriously as in the spring. Bright colors are everywhere - purple, blue, yellow, orange, red, white etc.. The blue mist flowers (photo below) were shining like flashing beam in the wind and under the sun. Walking through them triggered my allergy. But hey, it’s all worth it! Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy.

Wish you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all, and especially friends in Seattle area,

I am excited to share with you about a new exhibition that I am humbly featured among many amazing artists. The exhibit is a collaboration between The Music of Asian American Research Center (MAARC) and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle. A big thank to musicologist Dr. Eric Hung for inviting me to be part of this incredible project!

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

Sound Check! The Music We MakeOctober 15, 2023 through September 14, 2024 Special Exhibition Gallery | https://www.wingluke.org/soundcheck

This exhibition explores the role music has played in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander lives & communities as an element of cultural heritage/identity, a form of personal/creative expression, a commercial industry, a connecting/healing force, and an integral part of thriving communities and culture.

The interactive exhibit includes behind the scenes-photos, framed artworks, podcasts, artifacts, storylines, audio, and videos that feature AANHPI artists’ expressions of cultural identity.

Sound Check! The Music We Make reflects the Wing Luke Museum’s mission to highlight personal stories from while connecting the community to the dynamic history, cultures and art of AANHPI through vivid storytelling and inspiring experiences to advance racial and social equity.

The Wing Luke Museum is in Seattle’s Chinatown-international district, Washington, United States. It focuses on the culture, art and history of Asian Pacific Americans. Established in 1967, the museum is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate and the only pan-Asian Pacific American community-based museum in the country. The museum is named for Seattle City Council member Wing Luke, the first Asian American elected to public office in the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s.

Address:

719 S. King StreetSeattle, Washington98104

Open: 10 AM — 5 PMClosed Tuesdays

The following photos are for courtesy of Eric Hung.

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Dear all,

This multi-track composition was created and recorded yesterday on the valiha and guzheng. Half of the tracks were valiha while the other half were guzheng, both performed by me. The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar. The guzheng 古筝 is a 21-string either from China, which is my main instrument that I’ve been playing since I was five. The valiha in the recording belongs to my friends who are historians of Madagascar. They have generously let me use their beautiful valiha to explore new sounds in my compositions. I am still learning how to play it. It has opened up a lot of my perspectives in my daily creative life. During this difficult time for many many people including my family members and friends around the world, I hope this piece brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all,

The last thirty hours have been very heavy in my family and many families around the world since the war broke out in Israel. The situation is only getting more scary by the minute. I have close friends who have family members over there in the war zone. Some of them have not been able to get hold of their loved ones for two days; some are on their way back to join the army. My heart has sunk into a deep hole. I created this piece to cope with the grief and hope it will help you to feel a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This three-track guzheng étude was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. I didn’t wear finger picks this time. The timber is much softer than when I wear my picks. I usually wear seven finger picks - four on the right hand and three on my left hand. I also half muted my guzheng with a banana that was weaved through the strings in the middle and lower resisters. I have always enjoyed playing around with changing tone colors of different harmonies, interlocking different rhythmic patterns to discover new sonic textures. Hope this piece brings you a lot of energy into your week.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This guzheng étude was created and recorded yesterday. I played it at a tempo of 205 BPM. BPM stands for beat per minute. It is also known as Prestissimo in music term. For example:

Moderato (moderately): 108-120 BPM. Allegro (fast): 120- 168 BMP. Presto (very fast): 168-200 BMP. Prestissimo (extremely fast): over 200 BMP.

It was rather a crazy day for me. So I let out all the energy in this highly energetic composition. Have a fantastic weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This three-voice guzheng fugue was composed and recorded yesterday, inspired by this cute baby eastern box turtle in the forest of west Nashville.

In classical music, a fugue is a contrapuntal, polyphonic compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject (a musical theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches), which recurs frequently throughout the course of the composition. Fugues can also have episodes—parts of the fugue where new material is heard, based on the subject—a stretto, when the fugue's subject "overlaps" itself in different voices, or a recapitulation. A popular compositional technique in the Baroque era, the fugue was fundamental in showing mastery of harmony and tonality as it presented counterpoint.

Hope this piece brings you a moment joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This three-track night song was created and recorded yesterday. I played the guzheng and valiha (traditional zither from Madagascar) at the same time for the first track: right hand played the valiha while my left hand played guzheng (photo below). After the instrumental track, I sang on the other two tracks. I was inspired by the full moon over the weekend and a lovely family reunion with my cousins who came to Nashville from Beijing. Hope this piece brings you joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Dear all,

I am back home after a busy and amazing week at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Yes, I got to perform my own composition with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and I got to conduct the orchestra in one of the seven movements using lightening batons and lightening gloves. Maestro Lio Kuokman conducted Hello Gold Mountain. Oud wizard Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz was magical as always. Dr. Patricia Rosenmeyer narrated the poem in the performance as part of the work. The concert hall was fully packed and the audience was with us every second. It was an incredible experience and privilege to have The Philadelphia Orchestra perform Hello Gold Mountain as the first professional orchestra. I can still hear the encouraging cheers from the standing ovation after the concert.

I want to give me deepest gratitude towards the Carolina Performing Arts of UNC Chapel Hill for making this dream of mine come true. Their amazing staff and board members are making stunning projects happen in our country. They are a world class organization. After this week, I have come to the realization of how many people putting in enormous amounts of effort to make one concert happen. I am truly blessed.

Thank you all for your support everyday. I have missed playing and recording in my studio. While I decompress from the intense trip, recording and practicing everyday is healing and keeping me grounded. Before I share more exciting announcements, I would like to enjoy a moment of nothingness but music with you all. The joy of everyday is the most powerful thing in our life.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

I composed this three-track guzheng piece yesterday, inspired by the five and the only flowers on the crabapple tree in my forest (photo below). Crabapple trees usually blossom in early April only for 10-14 days. I do not water it. It has been there for who knows how many years even decades. This fall, for the first time it blossoms in the later summer and early fall with just a few flowers. I told my father about it. He said it’s bad luck (from old Chinese folklore). Oh well, I still love the beautiful blossoms. Hope this song brings you peace if not good luck :)

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Yesterday, I created my third composition on the valiha - a tube zither from Madagascar. I recorded this piece on two tracks interacting with each other. The valiha is considered the "national instrument" of Madagascar. Thanks to my friends Tasha and David for letting me explore and swim in the glorious sound waves of their valiha. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This multitrack prepared guzheng + spoken vocal was composed and recorded, performed by me.

A prepared instrument is a string instrument has had its sounds temporarily altered by placing bolts, screws, mutes, rubber erasers, and/or other objects on or between the strings. I used three metal key chain rings on D, A, G strings.

The Chinese tongue twister in the piece is: “天上一只鹅，地上一只鹅。鹅飞鹅打，鹅碰鹅。A goose in the sky, a goose on the ground. A goose flies, a goose attacks. Goose bumps into goose.”

I have known the poem since I was a kid. The way 鹅 é (goose) is spoken has a click done by the tongue, which is very similar to a few African languages like the Khoisan languages and the Bantu languages of Botswana and Namibia. I didn’t intend to feature this poem. Somehow it jumped in my head towards the end of the recording.

Hope it brings a moment of joy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This multitrack guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday after spotting a rare fall blossom of the crabapple tree in my front yard (photo below). This is the first time for me to see this tree flowering in later summer / early fall since I moved to this house in Nashville several years ago. Crabapple usually blossom in bright pink in early April for about two weeks. I had to look it up to get an answer of this strange phenomenon:

From an article called “What causes flowers to bloom in the fall” published on Yale Climate Connections:

‘ “According to our current understanding, the process of overcoming winter dormancy is also related to stress, and possibly summer drought is able to evoke a similar response,” said Eike Ludeling, a researcher at the Institute of Crop Sciences and Resource Conservation at the University of Bonn in Germany.

Dan Stern, the director of horticulture at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, said that cherry trees also bloom occasionally in the fall. “We frequently see cherry trees throw open some flowers when a warm spell follows our first real cold snap.” Sometimes, an unusual environmental factor can cause plants to bloom out of season.’

In the last two weeks, Nashville has been extraordinarily hot and dry, alongside with reports about record breaking heat waves all over the world. It is rather troubling to see the crabapple tree reacting in front of my eyes — lonely pink blooms on the nearly-bare branches.

Wu Fei 吴非

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I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng piece yesterday in the middle of a very humid and hot day in Nashville. The inspiration came from seeing a big female tiger swallowtail butterfly in the forest (photo below). They have been coming back every summer, which makes me happy. One interesting fact about living in the forest is that incests and plants don’t always come back every year. Many of them are good for the enrichment. For example, I have not seen ladybugs returning to the forest for at least four years. It’s not good for our eco system, told by my local farmer.

I learned some fun facts about thetiger swallowtail butterfly:

they can fly up to 30 miles per hour. The Tiger Swallowtail has a wingspan of 3-6 inches, making it one of the largest butterflies in North America.
The male tiger swallowtail is yellow with black stripes. The female has two forms: one like the male and another that is all black. Both female forms show iridescent blue on the upperside of the hindwings. The underside of the forewing has a row of yellow spots, while the underside of the hindwing has an orange spot.

Meanwhile, I wait for the ladybugs to show up again. Hope this piece brings you joy into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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I recorded this two-track guzheng piece yesterday. Both of the tracks were improvised in one long take without any time signature. It was a new approach for overdubbing that I’ve been experimenting. I often end up in a zone that it wasn’t set up intentionally when I laid down the first track. Having an absolute open beginning and zero plan from the moment I sat down in front of my instrument has led me to many unexpected paths in the most satisfying results.

Lately, there has been quite a lot of fungi in the forest near my home in Nashville. Some of them are in amazing colors like the ones in photo below. They are called Witch’s hat. These mushrooms appear after summer and autumn rains, popping up in groups across fields, grasslands, and roadsides. I learned that the caps of the fungi quickly turn jet black. I got lucky catching them when they were still in bright red. They have been found in Northern America, Europe, Africa, Central and South America, Antarctica (island), Asia, Australia, New Zealand. Witch's hat is reported to be poisonous. Don’t eat them if you see them :)

Wu Fei 吴非

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This solo guzheng piece was recorded yesterday, performed by me. Lately, I have been sorting old family photos over the internet with my relatives in Beijing. I come from a big family from my father’s side. Most of my relatives still live there. The Wu family tree goes back to at least six generations in Beijing. Everyone has been very close. As my uncles and aunts getting older, several of them passed away in the past a few years. Since covid, I have felt a sense of urgency to make a record of every family member’s name, how they are related to me, what they did, stories about them etc.. My uncles started sharing old photos they had in my WeChat family group, as well as sharing their memories of their childhood. Most of the photos are my first time seeing them. It is very moving to see my elderly relatives when they were young. Below is a photo of two uncles of mine on the Great Wall in the early 1970s. It was in the middle of the Cultural Revolution. The uncles were first cousins to each other. The younger uncle in the photo was living in Guangzhou visiting the older uncle (died 1990s) in Beijing. The two cities are 1890 km (1175 miles) apart. The trains were very slow back then in China. My uncles must be very happy to see each other.

Wish you and all your loved ones good health!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This three-track guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. A month ago, I visited my dear friends in the ancient town of Ondarroa in the Basque Country in northern Spain. The road and the buildings (photo below) have been there for more than 1100 years. My friend’s mother Afra is 89 years old, a costume jewelry designer from Milano who married a Basque sportsman who was a pelota champion. During the entire Francois Spanish (1939 - 1975), this family was completely separated from their Basque root. Since their return to the homeland, Afra has lived a the same home with her husband who passed away years ago in the same home on this street. In the photo, Afra’s son (my friend) was walking her from the town center where we had pintxcos earlier (tapas in the Basque Country) back to her home. It is a steep road that Afra walks on everyday. No wonder Afra is in great shape. She is a treasure and loved by everyone in Ondarroa!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Dear all and friends in Chapel Hill, North Carolina,

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historical trip of the Philadelphia Orchestra to China in 1973, I am honored to perform with the orchestra presenting my work “Hello Gold Mountain 同舟” on September 21, Thursday in Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill, NC presented by Carolina Performing Arts.

Second half of the evening is Beethoven Symphony No.6. It feels great to open for Beethoven!

Details & tickets: https://carolinaperformingarts.org/events/philadelphia-orchestra/

I composed and recorded “The scarlet tanager 艳羽风琴” — a multitrack guzheng piece yesterday. You can hear my high energy in the playing. Many exciting news are coming for the new season for North America, South America and Europe. Stay tuned and have a fantastic weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This three-track guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me. I played around with tone colors again on rapid chord plucking patterns.

Last month, I was in Rouen, France visiting family members. One of the historical landmarks there is the Rouen Cathedral. As I stepped in the big door, someone was playing Bach on a church pipe organ. The sound was so powerful that my arms got goose bumps. My hair felt like it was actually standing up.

My 8-year old child kept asking me where the sound was coming from because he couldn’t see any musician. We were standing right where I took the photo below. I told him that the music was coming out of these pipes. He asked again with a little frustration “But how?” I grabbed his hand and started to look for the musician. It took us a while to find the organist because he was sitting so far away from the pipes.

These pipes were so incredibly loud that wherever we walked to, the music felt like next being played next to our ears. The cathedral was huge. We finally found him. When he finished the piece, my eyes were full of tears. I dream to compose for a pipe organ like this one someday.

Wu Fei 吴非

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I had fun creating and recording this 3-track guzheng composition yesterday while it was raining outside in Nashville. Before music was became serious in my childhood, I thought about becoming a scientist. Albert Einstein wished he’d be a musician if he wasn’t a scientist. I would’ve loved to have met him and play silly!

Hope it brings you a moment of joy into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This composition was composed and recorded on 3-track prepared-guzheng, performed by me. Musical instruments whose timbre has been altered by placing various objects (preparations) on or between the instrument's vibrating strings (or other sound source). In this piece, I used four metal key chain rings to be attached on four different strings - one ring on one string. The sound that may sound like a “gong” would be the prepared strings.

Two weeks ago, I visited the Museum of Illusions in Montréal. One installation gave me illusions of endless swirling flowers (photo below). Visitors could turn the the three small wheel-like objects. It was a fascinating experience for me with a little dizziness at the end :) Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy to start the week.

Wu Fei 吴非

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I composed and recorded this piece on three-track guzheng yesterday.

Most of the pitches are played open string harmonics. It means I lay my left fingers lightly on the strings at the exact half way point of the total length of each strings. And then I use my right hand to pluck the strings to get the pitches that are an octave higher than the actual strings. Playing in such a way not only gives me all the overtones (an octave above), it also gives me a half-muted sound effect caused by my left fingers lightly touching the strings consistently.

The music was inspired by the history of Basque whaling tradition in the Bay of Biscay, which is longer than a thousand years. When I visited the town Ondarroa of the Basque Country two weeks ago, I was amazed by the balcony wall that was on people’s apartment buildings (photo below).

The Basque people are extremely proud of their history and culture. My Basque friends told me about the fishing and whaling traditions, what the sounds were like when the rowing paddles hit each other on the ocean from the folklore from their childhood. I thought of the ancient whalemen hunting whales when I created this piece.

Wish you all an adventurous weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This multitrack guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday.

Last week, I was visiting my cousin and her husband in Rouen, France. They have been living there for more than 30 years. They were thrilled to have family members to visit them from overseas since we are all scattered around the world living in different continents. They took us all over the place to see local sights.

One was the Rouen Cathedral— the Cathédrale Primatiale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de Rouen. Every summer, the city of Rouen puts on a light show on the façade of the cathedral every night starting at 11pm. All kinds of people come out to enjoy the show and music together.

It was breathtaking! Below is a photo of one of the amazing visual effects projected onto the Rouen Cathedral.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This multitrack guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday, inspired by my a zither made by my friend Xabier Irinodo, an Italian musician and instrument inventor. In 2006, I played at Xabier’s music shop called Sound Metak in central Milano. That was my first time seeing this zither (photo below) made by him. Two weeks ago, I stayed with Xabier’s family in their holiday home in Mendexa in the Basque Country of Spain. What a happy reunion for me and the zither! I started to sing into the sound holes on the side of the zither while I plucked the strings. It brought me back to the time when I was touring in Italy Amun years ago.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Dear all,

I have finally returned home in Nashville, Tennessee. Thank you for your patience. My holiday was extended by three extra days by the cancellation (Air Canada) of my return flight from Montréal to Nashville that was supposed to bring me home last Saturday. My family and I were stuck in Montréal until Tuesday. However, we were lucky to turn the stressful situation into another holiday in Montréal. I am still in awe of the beauty of the French speaking city!

Today’s solo guzheng improvisation was inspired by the rocks on the Saturraran beach in the Basque Country in Spain where I spent a week in. My longtime friend Xabier Iriondo (musician from Milano) whose father was a famous sportsman from Ondarroa in the Basque Country took us around all over this amazing region. The culture and history of the Basque people is truly fascinating and inspiring. My children now say “Eskerrik asko” around the house now. It means thank you in the Basque language. I will continue to share my experiences with you in the next newsletters.

One of the days during the trip, Xabier took us to the Saturraran beach. This beach is famous with the locals and its folklore of the two rocks:

“The Saturraran beach is closed in its eastern part with a rocky ridge in which two rocks stand out, giving the place a singular characteristic. These rocks of Cretaceous origin and called Eskilantzarri (bell-shaped), have a popular legend associated with their origin.

Legend has it that there were two lovers named Satur and Aran. Satur, who was a fisherman, went out to sea every day to fish while Aran waited on land. One gale day Satur did not return and Aran remained waiting for him. When he was aware that he would not return, Aran cursed the sea and asked that it take her too. That night, after a great noise, Aran disappeared and in its place the two great rocks of Saturraran arose: one is Satur and the other is Aran.”

Original texts in Spanish from Xabier:

“La playa de Saturraran se cierra en su parte este con un cordón rocoso en el que destacan dos peñas que dan una característica singular al lugar. Estas peñas de origen Cretácico y denominadas Eskilantzarri (aspecto de campana), tienen asociada una leyenda popular que cuentan su origen.

La leyenda dice que había dos amantes llamados Satur y Aran. Satur, que era pescador, salía todos los día a pescar a la mar mientras que Aran se quedada a la espera en tierra. Un día de galerna Satur no regresó y Aran permaneció esperándole. Cuando fue consciente de que no volvería, Aran maldijo el mar y pidió que también se la llevara an ella. Aquella noche, tras un gran estruendo, Aran desapareció y en su lugar surgieron las dos grandes rocas de Saturraran: una es Satur y la otra es Aran.”

Wu Fei 吴非

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This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday after a couple of days of stormy and steamy weather in Nashville. I had no power for a whole night because of the strong wind and rain on Friday. The city was extremely quiet and calm after the storm knocked out the power. I was surprised how many noises were in the house when the electricity was on all the time. When I sat down to record this piece, I recaptured the feeling I had surrounded by silence for many hours. As a modern human, I feel strange without so many noises around me. However, it was a comforting feeling when everything stopped including the electronic clock. Time stopped. I felt liberated. Secretly, I wished the power wouldn’t come back on because how rare the silence was to me. There was no expectation from life even if it was for a short period of time. I could think without expectation. It was luxury. Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace.

When you read this newsletter, I will have started a summer trip with my husband and our children to Spain and France to visit friends and family members for the next ten days or so. Although I won’t have stable internet, I hope to continue my music journey via my phone to stay connected to you in someway. Substack phone app doesn’t seem to have the function to post podcast. I will be posting on Notes and my Instagram (@wufeimusic) if you are on there too. My daily music post will resume on July 16th. Thank you for your understanding and support! Wish you all a wonderful summer and a fun July 4th if you are in the U.S..

Wu Fei 吴非

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This guzheng waltz was composed and recorded yesterday, named after a humming bird drinking in the feeder in front of my window (photo below). What an amazing creature it is! I heard the sound of its wings flapping which intrigued me to imitate the sound from my fingers’ plucking. Hope this piece brings you fun energy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This night song was composed and recorded on two-track guzheng yesterday. I used the form of a baroque minuet as an intro in the piece. A minuet is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time. The English word was adapted from the Italian minuetto and the French menuet.

The term also describes the musical form that accompanies the dance, which subsequently developed more fully, often with a longer musical form called the minuet and trio, and was much used as a movement in the early classical symphony.

I was inspired by the Silverleaf hydrangea (photo below) that has been blooming in the forest near my home. This beautiful plant is native to the mountainous region (usually above 2,000 feet elevation) represented by the southern Blue Ridge Mountains from southeast Tennessee, east to North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina, and south to northeastern Georgia. It typically occurs near streams, rocky outcrops, and along roads, especially in the headwaters of the Chattanooga River and also in the French Broad River Valley.

Hope this night song brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Dear all,

A childhood dream is coming true for me: The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform my symphony orchestral composition Hello Gold Mountain 同舟, presented by Carolina Performing Arts featuring me on guzheng/voice and oud master Shanir Blumenkranz (Silk Road Ensemble).

Time : September 21, 19:00pm

Venue: Memorial Hall, UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hello Gold Mountain is inspired by real stories of Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai from Europe before and during World War II, and built lives in China.

In 1973, The Philadelphia Orchestra became the first American orchestra to perform in the People’s Republic of China. The visit helped open the door to a new era of cultural exchange. Since then, the Orchestra has blazed new paths for classical music, with a bevy of boundary-busting musicians and one-of-a-kind performances.

This fall, on the fiftieth anniversary of that historic trip, the Orchestra will explore this rich legacy of cultural diplomacy over two nights in Chapel Hill. See below for more information about these two distinct performances.

Info and tickets here.

Today’s track is a solo guzheng improvisation I recorded yesterday, inspired by an elegant mayfly that sat on my window for a long time. The ancient Roman encyclopaedist Pliny the Elder described the mayfly as the “hemerobius” in his Natural History:

The River Bug on the Black Sea at midsummer brings down some thin membranes that look like berries out of which burst a four-legged caterpillar…but it does not live beyond one day, owing to which it is called the hemerobius.

The mayfly has come to symbolise the transitoriness and brevity of life. The English poet George Crabbe, who was interested in insects, compared the brief life of a newspaper with that of mayflies, both being known as “Ephemera”, things that live for a day:

“In shoals the hours their constant numbers bringLike insects waking to th' advancing spring;Which take their rise from grubs obscene that lieIn shallow pools, or thence ascend the sky:Such are these base ephemeras, so bornTo die before the next revolving morn.

— George Crabbe, “The Newspaper”, 1785

Wu Fei 吴非

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This composition was created and recorded yesterday on two-track guzheng, inspired by the wild potato vine (photo below). They are blossoming on the hills near my home in Nashville. Yesterday was Father’s Day. What a wonderful coincidence that a nickname of the plant is called Man of the Earth! Happy Father’s Day!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This guzheng + vocal improvisation was recorded yesterday inspired by a live streaming music salon I watched.

I got up early yesterday morning to watch this rare live event that was held in Beijing (Nashville is 13 hours behind Beijing). Muqam master Yiliham Reyim, from Yarkant County of Xinjiang, gave a two-hour music performance and Q & A, presented by China Digital Traditional Music 中国音网, an organization dedicated to preserving traditional music from all around China and its neighboring countries. Yiliham sang and played the satar, which is an important instrument to play Muqam music (photo below).

It was a rare chance to enjoy a musical performance from a tradition that is under real threat in China from repression and co-option by the state.

Muqam is a kind of Islamic music that is distributed in 19 nations and regions of Middle Asia, South Asia, West Asia and North Africa. For Uyghurs, the “Twelve Muqam” — twelve classical pieces of music — are most representative, and date back to music popularized as early as the 14th Century.

It takes 24 hours to play the whole set of 12 Muqam, Aside from singing, musical instruments include Shataer, Tanboer, Rewapu, tambourine, and Dutaer.

I will be on my way to Boston area to give a concert this weekend. My newsletter will return next Monday. Wish you all a wonderful weekend and hope we all learn something new!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This piece was composed and recorded yesterday dedicating to the millions of high school seniors who are taking the national college entrance exam 高考 at this very moment in China. Every year, in the first week of June, the biggest and most intense exams on earth take place in China for three days. This exam will determine millions of young people’s future in the most dramatic way. I just found out that one of my cousins’ son is taking the exam right now in a high school that is in the neighborhood where I grew up. My cousin posted a photo of a beautiful sunset where I recognized the buildings. I can only imagine how emotional she must be going through for her son’s exams… I have teas just from typing these words down. I wish her son the best!

Thinking the national exam makes me remember a poem by poet Chen Zi’ang 陈子昂 ( 661-702) from the Tang Dynasty (my calligraphy of the poem below). A native of Shehong County in modern Sichuan province, Chen Zi'ang was the son of a rich man, and did not travel to Luoyang, the capital to take his exams until he was in his twenties. He completed the Jinshi 进士 level (the highest and final degree) of the Imperial Examination (equivalent of today’s national exam) at age twenty-four. He wrote a farewell poem on the night before he left home in Sichuan.

“Farewell to my friends in the spring

The bright lit candle is spitting out light green smoke as I hold the golden wine cups to my farewell banquet. I will depart my home leaving family and dear friends behind soon to be on a long journey beyond the mountains and the rivers. The banquet keeps going on until the bright moon is hanging behind the tall trees and the Milky Way disappears in the dawn. In the morning, I begin my long trip to Luoyang capital. Who knows when we will ever meet again. ”

《春夜别友人二首. 其一》

陈子昂「唐」

银烛吐青烟，金樽对绮筵。离堂思琴瑟，别路绕山川。明月隐高树，长河没晓天。悠悠洛阳道，此会在何年。

Wu Fei 吴非

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Every year on this day, I think of my hometown Beijing with a heavy heart. A group of mothers lost their teenage children in a horrific event on this day thirty four years ago in my hometown. I was still a kid. Now as a mother, I created this piece as if playing my child’s favorite song to put him to sleep.

The melodic element from the beginning is typical intonation of traditional story telling art 曲艺 from northern China, especially Beijing and Tianjin 京津 area. This music art form has had more than 1500 years of history. It was already popular during the Tang Dynasty ( 618-907 A.D.) from monks singing stories of the Buddhist sutra and scriptures.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Summer is here! A big storm just hailed down in the forest right before I started to warm up for this recording. The sun was still out beaming while the rain poured down. I was inspired instantly by this natural phenomena and improvised this track in one go. Hope it brings you a moment of high energy into your adventurous weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Good morning everyone,

I just created this solo guzheng piece ten minutes ago after a long weekend of Memorial Day in the U.S.. The birds are chirping as you can hear in the recording. The white campion blossoms are still there in the early morning. I noticed them yesterday evening while I was taking a stroll. The flowers seemed to pop out of no where all of a sudden. The white campion is native to most of Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa. So wild that they are in front of my house in Nashville, Tennessee at this very second. Hope this piece brings you a moment of calm.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This counterpoint composition was created and recorded yesterday on half-prepared guzheng. I prepared my guzheng with a bandana which semi-muted some of the strings. All the 21 guzheng strings are open strings. The resonance is one of the main characters that make a guzheng sound enchanting. However, I like to have more rhythmic approach on the instrument. I have found an effective way to mute the strings with thin pieces of cloth.

In music, a fugue is a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject (a musical theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches and sometimes rhythms) and which recurs frequently in the course of the composition. A fugue usually has three main sections: an exposition, a development and recapitulation which is a final entry that contains the return of the subject in the fugue's tonic key. However, I broke the rule of recapitulation to an open ending in this piece.

In the Middle Ages, fugue was widely used to denote any works in canonic style; by the Renaissance, it had come to denote specifically imitative works. Since the 17th century, the term fugue has described as the most fully developed procedure of imitative counterpoint.

The form evolved during the 18th century from several earlier types of contrapuntal compositions. Famous fugue composers include Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), Johann Jakob Froberger (1616–1667), Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706) and others. With the decline of sophisticated styles at the end of the baroque period, the fugue's central role waned, eventually giving way as sonata form and the symphony orchestra rose to a dominant position. Nevertheless, composers continued to write and study fugues for various purposes; they appear in the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) and many others.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This composition was created and recorded on two track guzheng, performed by me. I continue to explore tone colors in this piece by tuning the guzheng in two different scales in free tempo and time signature in each track. Tempo is the speed in music. The inspiration came from a beautiful afternoon I spent with family in Leipers Fork, Tennessee (photo below). Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into your week.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This multitrack guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by a photo by my husband in taken Tibet in January, 1997. He rode a bike (photo below) by himself for a year from Pakistan to Xinjiang to Tibet and Nepal. I envy him to this day.

The music started from double tremolos plucked by my thumb and middle fingers back and forth in a rapid speed. In music, tremolos create a trembling effect. The tremolos in the piece keep building to more layers on different pitches, which expand the tone colors of the harmonies. I love shifting tone colors in music. It changes our emotions from hearing shifts of chords and sonic textures. It is also a completely scientific process to our human bodies where sound waves hit our eardrums. And then, instantly, it moves our emotions. Is that the most magical thing ever?

Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into the weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. Recently, I have been thinking about traditional compositional structures. The common ones are:

A B A
A B1 B2 A
The sonata form
Rondo ( A B A C A D A)
Theme and variations etc.

I realized that I had been using these forms subconsciously because of years of music training. In this piece, I purposely broke up the old structures to give myself space for new perspectives.

I’ve named the piece Crane Fly, after the bug in the window I photographed when I finished recording the piece. They crane fly lives in the woods around my house. They are also called mosquito hawks and skeeter eaters, even though they don’t actually eat mosquitoes. This crane fly was sitting on the glass, listening to me the whole time I was recording this piece.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This guzheng étude was recorded yesterday at 165 beats per minute (BPM). BPM measures how fast or slow the music is. A song with a BPM of 120 would be considered relatively fast, while a song with a BPM of 60 would be considered relatively slow.

In this track, I plucked four times per beat in the tempo of 165 BPM throughout the piece, with occasional pauses. It means I plucked 660 times every minute on average. That is why I named the piece an étude, which means a musical composition written to be an exercise in technique.

In 2011, I went to the breathtaking Hanging Temple 悬空寺 in China (photos below). The temple was built into a cliff (75 m or 246 ft above the ground) near Mount Heng in Shanxi Province, more than 1,500 years ago. The Hanging Temple is rare, perhaps unique, as it is dedicated to three different philosophies or religions: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

Wu Fei 吴非

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I composed and recorded this piece yesterday on prepared guzheng. A prepared instrument is that instrument has had its sounds temporarily altered by placing bolts, screws, mutes, rubber erasers, and/or other objects on or between the strings. I used five keychain rings in this piece (photo below). This way of playing and making music has had about one hundred years of history. Important composers who were influential in making prepared instrument music (primarily piano) were Henry Cowell (1897–1965), John Cage (1912-1992), Pauline Olivers (1932 - 2016), Lou Harrison (1917 -2003) and Fred Frith. I studied Deep Listening from Pauline Oliveros and composition from Fred Frith while I was at Mills College.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace to your busy Monday.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This solo guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me. The Amur honeysuckle are blossoming everywhere in the forest near my home in west Nashville, Tennessee.

The Amur, or Heilong Jiang (black dragon river) forms the border between the Russian Far East and Northeastern China. The Amur honeysuckle, is a species of honeysuckle in the family Caprifoliaceae that is native to temperate eastern Asia; specifically in northern and western China south to Yunnan, Mongolia, Primorsky Krai in southeastern Siberia, Korea, and, albeit rare there, central and northern Honshū, Japan.

Although I don’t know when the Amur honeysuckle came to Nashville, I feel connected to it knowing its origin. I adore its Chinese name — 金银忍冬 literally mean “gold, silver, enduring the winter”.

Wishing you a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This night song was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. Hope this track start your week with a moment of calmness.

I would also like to share an album review of the duo record “Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn” released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings in 2020. The review was written by musicologist Jay M. Arms (University of Pittsburgh, PA), and published in the Yearbook for Traditional Music on Cambridge University Press. You can read the full review here on Cambridge.org or pasted in below.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn. 2020.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings SFW40236. Produced by Béla Fleck. Performed by Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn. Liner notes by Xiaoshi Wei, Wu Fei, and Abigail Washburn. 43–page booklet with notes in English and Chinese. Colour photographs. CD, 10 tracks (34:40).

Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn (both born 1977) present their debut, self-titled duo album featuring Chinese and American folksongs arranged for guzheng and banjo. The unusual instrumentation is the result of a long-term friendship between the artists who started jamming on their respective instruments together in 2009. After Wu moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2014 the duo collaboration kicked into high gear spawning numerous public performances and culminating in this CD released by Smithsonian Folkways. Both virtuoso, Wu and Washburn are individually prolific performing and recording artists. Wu is a conservatory trained guzheng player, avant garde composer, and improviser known internationally among experimental music scenes. Grammy award winner Washburn is a household name for old-time music as a claw-hammer banjo player, and frequently tours internationally, notably in China. Whereas audiences may be surprised, or even a little skeptical about a guzheng-banjo duo album, Wu and Washburn’s attention to detail in every respect of the production leaves nothing to be desired, except perhaps more music. The playtime of just over half an hour is certainly substantial, but by the end I found myself wanting a few more pieces to round out the album.

This kind of project can run the risk of appearing superficial. Too many recordings create simple pastiches that juxtapose unlikely “world music” instruments together in clumsy ways, sometimes with little or no regard for the instruments’ traditions or even the playing techniques that make them sing. Jettison any reservations you may have in this case, because Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn present a knowledgeable, thought provoking, and musically enjoyable hybrid of Chinese and American old-time folk songs that will appeal to anyone interested in those traditions or this kind of cosmopolitan experiment generally.

Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn takes the concept of “folk music” critically by recognising the wide array of musics that term encompasses. The songs selected for inclusion represent a swath of Chinese and American folk traditions that is diverse in both the geography represented and the ethnic groups associated with each song. Ethnomusicologist Xiaoshi Wei’s excellent liner notes do a lot of work explicating the different genres included. On this album one can hear renditions of folksongs from the Chinese regions of Canton, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Qinhai, Qingyang, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Xinjiang, as well as a famous piece from a Henan opera. By the same token, there are American folksongs associated with different regions of the United States, such as Appalachia, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as songs associ- ated with immigrant groups, such as Irish and Scottish songs. In every instance proper accreditation is provided and is specific to individual creators where feasible.

Often, two songs are arranged together, producing a literal hybrid of two seemingly disparate songs. These arrangements are done with a deftness that belies any sense that a juxtaposition is occurring, however. The opening track on the album “Water is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song,” for example, utilises the two songs’ similar themes and harmonic character to great effect. “Wusuli Boat Song” is a 1960s adaption of folk songs of the Nanai people of the Northeastern Heilongjiang province where the Wusuli river flows. “The Water is Wide” is attributed to Irish and Scottish immigrants that uses water as poetic device for unrequited love. The short verses of both tunes are of similar length and are presented by Wu and Washburn both simultaneously and individually in Chinese and English. When sung together, the resulting polyphony makes one think the cohesion produced cannot be mere coincidence. The contours of both melodies tend to be contrary to one another, yet mostly make use of the same cadential notes. The first repetition of the verse features the English text alone, followed by another repetition with just the Chinese text, and a final repetition with both texts together.

As an album, Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn has excellent cohesion and is indelibly listenable. Moreover, it can be held up as a model for cross-cultural music making for its attention to detail, respect for its sources, and creative execution. Beyond its artistic merits the album has some pedagogical applications in the classroom. This album and its scholarly liner notes would be suitable for an assignment in a “Musics of the World” undergraduate course examining the meanings of “folk music.” It can also provide a useful example of hybridity done well and in a respectful manner. While this may be Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn’s first album as a duo, I hope it is not the last.

Published online by Cambridge University Press

JAY M. ARMS

Jay M. Arms is a Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, where he teaches courses in ethnomusicology, directs the university gamelan, and serves as Coordinator of Public Ethnomusicology. His research focuses on the international gamelan movement and global experimental music making.”

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This multitrack guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday. Every track was played by my left hand. The inspiration was from the wild flowers that are blossoming all over west Nashville. The colors of the flowers are stunning. The best way to give my eyes a break from the screen is to gaze far into the forest for a long time. You should try it too if you haven’t.

I am a right handed person. After decades of playing the guzheng and the piano everyday can put a lot of stress on my arms and fingers, especially my right side. I know that it happens to chefs, surgeons, dentists, and people who type a lot on computer keyboards. Keeping a good balance for our body is the foundation to our health. Wish you all a restful and fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This multitrack guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me. I saw a broken eggshell in the middle of the hiking trial (photo below). It wasn’t there the day before. I wonder if it’s a bird or a tortoise. Or could it be a snake? Whatever it is, I hope it’s growing strong and taking on the world with bravery!

Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This three-track counterpoint guzheng piece was recorded yesterday. The quarter-dotted note theme is throughout the piece. Everything else is an extension of the theme in an non-strict canon style in terms of compositional structure. I did not intend to develop the piece this way when I started the first track. Hearing what I had come up with from the first track drew me into an irresistible force that the second and third part came out instantly.

I would also like to share a wonderful concert review from The Seattle Times for my chamber orchestra composition Hello Gold Mountain, performed by the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra featuring oudist Shanir Blumenkranz and myself on guzheng/voice, conducted by Yaniv Attar. Please see photo below and click here to read full review.

Hope this piece starts your week with a moment of relaxation. Stay tuned for more exciting concerts & projects announcements for North America, Latin America and Europe!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng. I was inspired by a painting from the Song Dynasty China called Lady Su Hui and Her Verse Puzzle (photo below). It is a collection in The Met.

“This scene appears in a later copy of a Tang-dynasty painting illustrating the story of a literary legend, Lady Su Hui, who was supposed to have lived in the late fourth century. The dating of the original painting is supported by the types of instruments depicted in it. Both the harp (konghou) and the pipa played with a plectrum disappeared after the Tang.Front row, left to right: qin, pipa, pipa (played without plectrum), paibanBack row, left to right: dizi, xiao, sheng, konghou”

Su Hui 蘇蕙, was a Chinese poet of the Middle Sixteen Kingdoms period (304 to 439) during the Six Dynasties period. Her courtesy name is Ruolan (若蘭 Ruò lán). Su is famous for her extremely complex "palindrome" (huiwen 回文) poem, apparently having innovated this genre, as well as producing the most complex example to date. Su Hui is depicted in the Wu Shuang Pu (無雙譜, Table of Peerless Heroes) by Jin Guliang.

According to Wikipedia, Su Hui was known for an important and unusual poem. This was described in contemporary sources as shuttle-woven on brocade, meant to be read in a circle, and consisting of 112 or else 840 characters. By the Tang period, the following story about the poem was current:

Dou Tao of Qinzhou was exiled to the desert, away from his wife Lady Su. Upon departure from Su, Dou swore that he would not marry another person. However, as soon as he arrived in the desert region, he married someone. Lady Su composed a circular poem, wove it into a piece of brocade, and sent it to him.

Another source, naming the poem as Xuanji Tu (Picture of the Turning Sphere), claims that it was a palindromic poem comprehensible only to Dou (which would explain why none of the Tang sources reprinted it), and that when he read it, he left his desert wife and returned to Su Hui.

The text of the poem was circulated continuously in medieval China and was never lost, but during the Song dynasty it became scarce. The 112 character version was included in early sources. The earliest excerpts of the 840 character version date from a 10th-century text by Li Fang. Several 13th century copies were attributed to famous women of the Song dynasty, but falsely so. In the Ming dynasty the poem became quite popular and scholars discovered 7,940 ways to read it. It was also mentioned in the story Flowers in the Mirror. The poem is in the form of a twenty-nine by twenty-nine character grid, and can be read forward or backwards, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, as well as within its color-coded grids.

If you want to take a look at the poem of Picture of the Turning Sphere, click here. It is an utterly incredible piece of art!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This piece was composed and recorded yesterday.

Maestro Ahmad Jamal, the legendary jazz pianist/ composer passed away yesterday at age 92. I am beyond grateful for his brilliance, beauty and inspiration. Words are weightless to say what I want to say how much joy and wisdom his music has brought to my life. He was a treasure of our time.

Wu Fei 吴非

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The guzheng (古筝 lit. 'ancient zheng'), is a Chinese plucked zither. The modern guzheng commonly has 21 (most common like the one in the recording), 25, or 26 strings, is 64 inches (1.6 m; 5.3 ft) long, and is usually tuned in a major pentatonic scale. In this piece, I tuned it completely different from the traditional scale. It was inspired by Arabic music.

Guzheng has a large, resonant soundboard made from Paulownia wood, walnut or rosewood. Guzheng players often wear fingerpicks made from materials such as plastic, resin, tortoiseshell, or ivory (rare) on one or both hands.

I met some new friends over the weekend who were interested in knowing more about my instrument. If you want to read more about the guzheng (strings, history, performance culture, repertoire and performers etc.), please click here.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace to start this new week.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday, inspired by German composer, pianist, and piano teacher Clara Josephine Wieke-Schumann (1819 - 1896).

I had known about Clara Schumann as the talented wife of Robert Schumann, another German composer. But yesterday, a coincidence online led me to discovering more of her work.

I was amazed to discover details about her compositions, her marriage, her relationship with her parents, her profound friendship with German composer Brahms who wrote music for her. Brahms had his First Symphony performed just for Clara before the premiere to hear her thoughts.

I listened to Clara’s solo piano work for hours yesterday morning. Her Impromptu in G major ‘Souvenir de Vienne’ Op. 9 is an extraordinary piece. You can hear it here, performed by Susanne Grützman, recorded in 2007.

This powerful piano work by Clara Schumann was inspired by Joseph Hayden's melody that he had written as a birthday anthem to Francis II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and later of Austria. Clara Schumann had no idea that in 1922 the same melody would become the national anthem of her own country, Germany. To me, I had only known this melody as the German national anthem until yesterday.

"Impromptu" in music means improvised, composed without previous preparation. Chopin had a famous impromptu. It only makes sense that improvisation is inevitable when instrumentalists reach a high level, and it is the only next level of self-expression because the fingers can go wherever the mind and heart want them to go at the exact same moment.

Wu Fei 吴非

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The early azalea (photo below) is here in Nashville. They smell amazing already. Can’t wait for the full blossoms!

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Yesterday, I heard the passing of Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. I grew up listening to his music in films (The Last Emperor), animations and video games. As a composition student in a conservatory in China in the 1990s, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s music was like a fresh ingredient to my sonic learning book. This piece is dedicated to him.

RIP, maestro. Thank you for composing all the music that filled my youth with wonder and joy.

一路走好, 坂本龍一先生。感谢您谱写那么多难忘的旋律，使我的少年时代充满幻想与美好。

Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, member of YMO, dies.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Wish you all a healthy and romantic weekend with this new piece!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This piece was created and recorded yesterday. I plucked the strings on both sides of the bridges on my guzheng. One side is tuned in multi-pentatonic scale, and the other side is in all microtones. The blend of the two scales gives an interesting tone color and timbre that is seldomly explored in the traditional way of composing and performing. I find it very satisfying to create music like that. AS usual, you can hear the birds at the end of the recording :)

During my daily hike yesterday, I saw the wild blue phlox, also known as woodland phlox, or wild sweet william, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae, native to forests and fields in eastern North America.

According to Wikipedia, Phlox is self-incompatible, so it requires cross-pollination to produce seed. Butterflies are the most effective pollinators. As they insert their proboscis into the flower to drink nectar, it contacts the anthers and picks up pollen. As they coil the proboscis before moving to the next flower, most of the pollen falls off, but some remains to be transferred to the stigma of the next flower that they drink nectar from.

Cultivated varieties have various colours, including blue ('Blue Moon'), lavender ('Clouds of Perfume', photo below) and white ('Fuller's White', 'White Perfume').

Wu Fei 吴非

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This solo guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday after seeing a rue-anemone (photo below) on the hillside of the forest.

When I looked up this little flower, an interesting fact was that the rue-anemone was often confused with the similar species, the false rue-anemone. Both plants have white flowers that appear in early spring and grow in wooded areas. However, the false rue-anemone is more likely to be found in moist bottomlands and can form large colonies, while the rue-anemone grows singly on wooded slopes. Sometimes rue-anemone sepals are pale to dark pink, whereas false rue-anemone sepals are always white. The false rue-anemone holds its flowers in leaf axils, most often singly. In contrast, the flowers of a rue-anemone appear in a cluster above a whorl of leaf-like bracts, most often in groups of three to six. While false rue-anemones always have five sepals, rue-anemones can have five to ten sepals. False rue-anemones have a small cluster of no more than six green carpels in the center of the flower, while rue-anemones sometimes have as many as fifteen. False rue-anemones usually have deep clefts in their leaves, while rue-anemones do not.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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I wrote this piece yesterday and recorded it on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. Spring has arrived. The bunnies are out again in the forest. Each year, the cute furry animals become less scared of us. Now, when I step out of the house to put food leftover in the compost bin, the bunnies don’t run away any more. Instead, they hang around like in the photo below and wait for sweet peas and lettuce leaves from me :)

Wu Fei 吴非

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This composition was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by the memory of my concert residency at the UNECO World Heritage Zollverein in Essen Germany last November (photo below).

Wu Fei 吴非

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This composition was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by a smart bass (photo below) that has been living in the pound near my home. A dear friend caught it yesterday & threw it back in the lake. I had fun watching him fishing. Hope this piece brings you a fun moment into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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I composed and recorded this multi-track guzheng piece yesterday morning after hearing the beautiful eastern towhee birds in the forest. I didn’t get a good photo of the birds. You can listen to their callings on: All About Birds of The Cornell Lab . It has become one of my favorite websites to learn about the birds in North America!

Hope this piece brings a moment of joy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This piece was created and recorded yesterday on guzheng. I used mostly harmonics of the strings. Two days ago, Nashville experienced a day of severely strong wind. I was scared while I was driving my children from school to home in the wind. Every second, I worried my car being blown over by the wind. Luckily, we got home safely. However, more than 120,000 residents lost power for hours if not a full day. Yesterday, the weather was gorgeous. I hiked up to the hill to see the forest. Likely I predicted, many tress fell over from the wind. It was a chaotic aftermath. All of sudden, I saw some new leaves bursting out of this big tree that was laying down (photo below). My sadness was instantly gone. What doesn’t break me, makes me stronger.

Wu Fei 吴非

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《春晓》

“春眠不觉晓，处处闻啼鸟。夜来风雨声，花落知多少。-” 孟浩然 ( 689 - 740), 唐代山水田园派诗人

“Soundly sleeping in the spring, I didn’t realize the dawn. Till the birds broke out in song everywhere. Last night, in the clamor of wind and rain. How many flowers have fallen, would you suppose? ”- Meng Haoran (689 A.D. - 740 A.D.) Chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty.

Meng Haoran was a major influence on other contemporary and subsequent poets of the High Tang era because of his focus on nature as a main topic for poetry.

I can’t think of a better way to start my weekend with reading poetry, creating music while listening to nature.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Dear listeners,

Twenty fours hours ago, I returned home from a week of concert residency with the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra in Washington state. It was a wonderful week rehearsing and delivering two successful concerts last weekend in Bellingham. I have attached some photos from this trip (see below). Wish I had photos from the concert. I was too busy playing on stage :)

Bellingham is a beautiful city. Wish it was warmer last week so I could enjoy outdoor rather than staying inside because of the freezing temperature that hit the west coast.

This solo guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday. After a week of intense work and traveling, my energy was low though my zone was deep because meeting the wonderful people of Bellingham had enriched my life.

Stay tuned for more exciting announcements coming up!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Thank you, friends of Bellingham for a full-house standing ovation at your beloved gorgeous Mount Baker Theatre ❤️🙏🏼

I am honored and grateful to have played another beautiful Hello Gold Mountain concert with all these amazing musicians - Bellingham Symphony Orchestra + Shanir Blumenkranz (oud) & conductor Yaniv Attar.

Made new friends from the post-concert reception with community leaders, patrons, supporters of the symphony, the theatre and the arts / education communities. Always looking forward to be back!

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I composed this guzheng piece yesterday inspired by the first millipede I saw this year. There is an old idiom in Chinese 千里之行, 始于足下. It means “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Thank you all for your generous support from all over the world! This daily music project has changed my life in a significant and profound way. Everyday I get in a zone (when I’m home, not traveling) when I de-attach, re-tune, sound-cleansing whatever you call it. With a little new piece, I can connect to many of you in a second. I am preparing for another concert residency that is coming up next week. It will be with Bellingham Symphony in Washington state. I will resume my daily recording after February 27th when I return to my home.

Thank you again for your support and hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Friends in Washington state,

I'm so excited to perform with Bellingham Symphony next week!

Bellingham Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, 2/26, presents its 8th Harmony from Discord concert, featuring contemporary composer Wu Fei's Hello Gold Mountain.

I am thrilled to be working with maestro Yaniv Attar!

Info and tickets are here. Hope to see you there!

Wu Fei 吴非

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What an amazing concert residency I had last week Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I am humbled to receive standing ovations from the audience for my symphony premiere of Hello Gold Mountain.

What an honor to be called a “triple threat” artist by maestro Paul Salerni of Lehigh University Philharmonic! I’m now an honorary member or Lehigh Orchestra.

Thank you for all the friends (including some of my subscribers here) who came from New Jersey, NYC, Virginia, Mississippi, Rhode Island & many more places to support me! I always look forward to seeing you! 谢谢！

Wu Fei 吴非

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I created and recorded this piece on sanxian 三弦 (means 3 strings) and guzheng, both performed by me. Besides plucking the sanxian, I also played the resonator as a drum. The membrane is made out of snake skin. You can go to this page to read more about the sanxian. Hope this piece brings you fun energy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

The fungi in the forest in west Nashville look like little chime bells. Imagine if they had pitches!

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I had a fun hike in the forest encountering the first toad of the year (photo below). When I got home, I immediately created and recorded this multitrack on prepared guzheng (strings muted by a beach cloth). Hope it brings you a moment of joy in the early spring!

Wu Fei 吴非

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This piece was created and recorded on multitrack guzheng to welcome the lunar new year of the rabbit, which starts on January 22 this year. Chinese Astrology also incorporates the five elements: Water, Metal, Wood, Earth, and Fire. The zodiac moves through a different element each year. 2023 will be the Year of the Water Rabbit. Because the Yin Water element is associated with the color black, some people call this the “Year of the Black Rabbit.”

I would like to share another concert that is coming up in February if you are in New England area in the U.S.:

After months of orchestrating + revising + perfecting every single bar of every single part for every single instrument, the full symphony Hello Gold Mountain premiere is going to take place at Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University at 7:30pm on Saturday, Feb. 11th.

Concert detail and ticket link is here.

I can't express how much gratitude towards everyone who has encouraged me and helped me to make my biggest dream come true - my managers at Judson Management and Mark Wilson & Conductor Paul Salerni of Lehigh University, and oudist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz.

I am excited and nervous about performing with 80 + instrumentalists + singers + poet narrator. One of the total seven movements is a mixture of a group improvisation + structured element overlapping with each other done by the entire orchestra. It will be a mind-blowing experience for me to have music done this way in such a scale! See y'all at the premiere!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

Wu Fei and Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (oud) performing Hello Gold Mountain with chatterbird ensemble in Ingram Hall at Vanderbilt University 2019.

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It has been raining in Nashville. The rain inspired me to warm up my fingers on double guzheng. My left hand played a 3-finger rotating technique when my right hand played the long tremolos. The two guzhengs were tuned slightly different. That is how I hear the rain — sometimes the rain drops emerge into one pitch, some time the pitch split into hundreds of different pitches depending on the intensity of the rain and the objects that the rain drops land on. Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into your weekend.

(Show announcement below!)

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

Folks in Nashville,

I am excited about to share about a show that I am playing at 3rd & Lindsley. I don’t play in Nashville often, so hope to see you all there!

Sunday, January 29th at 8pm "Country Music From Other Countries" at 3rd & Lindsley, presented by Lightning 100 🚨

You won't want to miss this incredible night of music from around the globe.

Ticket Link: https://bit.ly/africanash

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This 3-track guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday after I saw these golden fungi in the forest. They are called Neofavolus alveolaris. It is a species of polypore fungus in the family Polyporaceae. According to Wikipedia, it is widely distributed in the temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Its kidney- or fan-shaped fruit bodies measure 1–8 cm (0.4–3.1 in) in diameter. Initially reddish, they become cream to white when dry. The pores on the cap underside are angular to hexagonal and relatively large (0.5–3 mm diameter). The fungus causes a white rot in hardwoods.

I love the different color tones from the sun shining on the bottom of the mushroom. Its incredible details triggered me to hear multi-colored sonic intervals in my head like what created in this piece.

Wish you all an adventurous weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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Dear all,

I am excited to share this piece that I composed and recorded on multitrack guzheng yesterday. I will be flying to Washington D.C. to play my last concert of 2022 when you receive this newsletter.

The concert will be held at The National Gallery of Art, West Garden Court at 3pm EST on December 18, 2022. Concert info is here.

After this concert, I will be traveling to New Zealand to be with my family over there for the holidays, so this track is my last newsletter of 2022.

Starting from January 2023, I will sending out Friday newsletter for free, and Mondays to Thursdays for paid subscribers.

If you’re looking for a holiday gift, now it would be a great time to send subscription gifts to family and friends for the coming year. Paid subscribers will have the access to my entire archive of more than 700 compositions since I launched this project in May 2020.

Thank you all so much for the support! I can’t wait to share more music and all my exciting new projects, concerts and tours that are being planned out globally. My dream is to perform live in your city so I could meet you and thank you in person.

Stay tuned for January 2, 2023. I can’t announce it yet, but stay tuned :)

Wish you all a happy Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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This multitrack guzheng etude was composed and recorded yesterday by me. I was inspired by the pink snowberry (photo below) I encountered in the forest while hiking two days ago.

According to Wikipedia, snowberry is a resilient plant able to withstand a variety of conditions. Snowberry plants are most commonly found in forests, dry or moist openings, rocky hillsides or near riverbanks and streams. They have been known to grow in a variety of soil types such as light sandy soil, medium loamy soil and heavier clay soil. Snowberry plants are also able to grow in a wide range of acidic and basic pHs and sunlight conditions.

Hope this piece brings you energy to start your week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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I am excited to share a podcast interview I did with CapRadio host Majel Connery. It is the most in-depth interview I have ever done talking about my life, childhood, drive and determination needed to succeed as a woman in the classical music industry.

It is an honor for me to be featured on this new NPR series with five amazing women composers — Sarah Kirkland Snider, Nathalie Joachim, Angelica Negron, Inti Figgis-vizueta and Sarah Cahill.

You can listen to my episode + all the episodes on:

CapRadio’s website
Apple Podcasts and Spotify on smartphones

After I listened to my episode yesterday, I recorded this solo guzheng improvisation. I tuned the guzheng partly in whole tone series and partly on G pentatonic scale.

Stay tuned for more exciting news coming up soon about my new project, composer-residency, new work premiere and concerts around the world. Hope to meet you in person when I play in your city and country next time.

Wish you all a relaxing weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

The forest near my home. The colors change everyday. Nature is magnificent!

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This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. After a very dry year in Nashville, the creek had water again after a whole night of rain (photo below). I wish it would rain much longer so the creek would be full enough to have water falls back. I miss the sound of water falls. It is calming and cleansing my dear drums and brain. Later in the day, I learned that without air, humans would survive for three minutes; without water, humans would survive for three days; without food, humans would survive for three weeks. Hope this piece brings you a moment of calmness into your week.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone! I composed and recorded this multitrack guzheng piece yesterday, inspired by this moment when I gazed at a window from my home. I said to myself if my home was an envelope, this sight would make a perfect stamp.

Hope it brings you a moment of energy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I was thinking about the people who have been protesting on the streets all over China against the zero Covid lockdown during my thanksgiving weekend in my peaceful west Nashville home.

It has been a heart breaking weekend as I could not ignore what was happening to my birth city and country. As the world has been returning to normal, I have been following closely to the zero covid situation in China. Many of my relatives and friends have been locked down in their homes for weeks, and some for months. Everyone worries about their safety and where the next meal would be now since they can’t see the end of the lockdown. I see sadness, grief, and hopelessness expressed on their social media posts.

Last Friday, there was horrific news: Ten people burned to death in their locked down apartments in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region in the far northwest of China. Soon after that, people all over China started to walk on the streets to express their utter frustration at the zero covid policy — “We want to eat! We want to work! We want freedom! No more Covid test! Stop lockdown!”

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

I woke up with the forest yesterday morning, feeling hopeful.

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Happy thanksgiving to you all who celebrate this holiday! Wish you a peaceful long weekend with friends and family if you are with them. I will return to my daily post next Monday. This guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday when I thought of the time I spent in Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage site in Essen, Germany earlier this month. The giant chimney was quite amazing to look up from the bottom. I wanted to climb it :) Humans create things for humans to stretch their limit, don’t we?

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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I had a lovely time playing a concert in Gent, Belgium two weeks ago. The city was as fascinating as I remember when I played there in 2009. I felt like I was in a fairy tale world again surrounded by castles and dreamy lights. The lights (photo below) were from the dinner I had at Ha Concerts where I played later that night. This guzheng etude was composed and recorded yesterday inspired by the lights from that night.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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The hills of Bellevue in west Nashville were covered by frost flowers this morning (photo below). A frost flower or ice flower is formed when thin layers of ice are extruded from long-stemmed plants in autumn or early winter. The thin layers of ice are often formed into exquisite patterns that curl into "petals" that resemble flowers. Once again, I was amazed by the magic of nature. How can I not be in love with our earth even if when it is freezing cold!

This guzheng waltz was composed and recorded yesterday, dedicated to the magical frost flowers. Wish you all a relaxing weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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Dear all,

I have returned home in Nashville from a wonderful 2-week tour in Europe and Midwest U.S.A.. It has been a non-stop traveling on planes, taxis, trains, bus, touring van etc.. I got to see old friends in Germany and Belgium. I made new friends in Chicago and Des Moines. How grateful I am for my family being loving and supportive of me so I get to play music all over the world! Hope this night song brings you peace and relaxation.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube

I was under this well in Zollverein’s art compound in Essen, Germany two weeks ago.

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Dear all,

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful fall or spring season! I recorded this improvisation yesterday from my home studio in the sunny Nashville, Tennessee. In contrast, I was thinking about some of the music I knew that was created during war time inspired by a conversation with a dear friend recently.

As my departure to Europe approaching, I would like to share the a few concert dates I have in the next two weeks if you and/or your friends are near any of these cities.

Europe:

Germany

November 1 - 5, I will be doing a recoding/concert residency in Essen, Germany as part of Fred Frith’s “Clearing Customs” project.

Date: November 5th.

Venue: UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein Kokerei Zollverein Salzlager (C88) Heinrich-Imig-Strasse 11 45141 Essen.

Belgium

Date: November 6th.

Venue: Handelsbeurs Concert Hall in Ghent, Belgium

USA:

Chicago, IL. Old Town School of Folk Music

Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn

November 10th, Thursday, 8pm

Venue: 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Cary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, Chicago.

Des Moines, IA. Civic Music Association

Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn

November 11, Friday, 7:30pm

Venue: Sheslow Auditorium

Washington D.C. The National Gallery of Art, West Building

My chamber orchestral work Hello Gold Mountainwith Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (oud) and Inscape Ensemble.

Date: December 18, Sunday, 3pm

While I will be on the road in the next two weeks, I will take time off from my daily recording as I will be constantly moving to different locations. I will resume recording after I come back on November 13th. Meanwhile, please enjoy the 682 compositions in my archive!

Thank you all for your support & wish you all my best!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

Photo by Brett Warren

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Friends in Essen, Germany & Ghent, Belgium,

I’m excited head your way soon in early November to record new music/play with:

Fred Frith 🇬🇧
Susana Santos Silva (trumpet 🇵🇹)
Anantha Krishnan (mridangam, tabla 🇮🇳)
Marque Gilmore (drums, electronics 🇸🇪)

Concert info (🇩🇪) :

https://www.zollverein.de/kalender/fred-frith-friends-clearing-customs

English translation:

Concert as part of the festival NOW! "Horizons"

After 2007, the English composer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Fred Frith and his guest musicians once again dare the experiment of improvising together for a week, breaking their own limits and getting rid of old habits. The result: Jazz at its best!

"Clearing Customs" is the reduced version of a project that began in 2007 at the SWR in Baden-Baden as part of the New Jazz Meeting and which resulted in the album "Clearing Customs" in 2011. The music is based on a 75-minute composition by Fred Frith, which was improvised by all the guest musicians involved in the project. In addition to traditional jazz instruments such as guitar and trumpet, Asian instruments such as guzheng and tablas were also used.

As part of the NOW! Festival 2022, the project will finally be repeated!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

Photo by Eva Z. Genthe in 2007 during my residency in SWR Radio in Baden-Baden, Germany. Miles Davis had recorded and rehearsed in this studio for “Mew Jazz Meeting” project.

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Yesterday, a dear friend brought me a gorgeous instrument called Rubab (photo below). It was shipped from Afghanistan to the U.S. a few weeks ago. It bitter-sweet so see such a treasure leaving its homeland,. However, it was hidden by a music maker to escape the chaotic and unpredictable future. I fell in love with the instrument and wrote this piece on guzheng inspired by rubab’ s beauty and history. Thanks to my dear friend who will be taking great care of it.

The rubab is one of the national musical instruments of Afghanistan; and is also commonly used in Pakistan in areas inhabited by the Pashtun and Baloch, and also played by Sindhi people in Sindh, by Kashmiri people in Kashmir, and by the Punjabis of the Punjab.

According to Wikipedia:

The rubab is known as "the lion of instruments" and is one of the two national instruments of Afghanistan (with the zerbaghali). Classical Afghan music often features this instrument as a key component. Elsewhere it is known as the Kabuli rebab in contrast to the Seni rebab of India. In appearance, the Kabuli rubab looks slightly different from the Indian rubab. It is the ancestor of the north Indian sarod, although unlike the sarod, it is fretted.

The rubab is attested from the 7th century CE. It is mentioned in old Persian books, and many Sufi poets mention it in their poems. It is the traditional instrument of Khorasan and is widely used in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as in the Xinjiang province of northwest China and the Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab regions of northwest India.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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This solo night song was created and recorded yesterday. After a few busy days looking after family members, I needed a calm tune to retune myself into the weekend.

If you or your friends are in/around Oxford, Mississippi area on Saturday evening, I am giving a solo concert + Q A at Water Valley. You can find more details here. Thanks to Becca Finley for putting the show together. Becca is the co-producer of a PBS TV series called Ear to the Common Ground, along with producer Todd Mayo (Underground Bluegrass at The Cavern for PBS). I am one of the featured artists in this series.

Ear to the Common Ground episodes were taped this April in a barn, on Cash Ln in Music City in a special place that once was the home of Country Music Hall Of Fame members June Carter, Carl Smith, Marty Stuart, Patsy Cline, Jim Denney, Mother Maybelle Carter as well as Carlene Carter, Cindy Cash and more. The series will air this fall on PBS and each of the 12 episodes will have one artist and one topic.

The series will highlight the wonderful diversity of America in many ways: ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, geography and most importantly the project will celebrate the diversity of thought and opinion.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

Photo from the actual newspaper North Mississippi Herald. How rare now these days to be featured in a print article!

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There have been a lot of turkey tail mushrooms in the forest of west Nashville (photo below). Turkey tail is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Meaning 'of several colors', versicolor reliably describes this fungus that displays a variety of colors. For example, because its shape and multiple colors are similar to those of a wild turkey. I decided to create / record this vocal and guzheng multitrack piece after being fascinated by these colorful fungi!

Recording vocal multitrack songs all by myself is hard. It requires a very different set of skills. Hope you enjoy this track. I made it a free track for everyone today because I don’t get to do this kind of recording often. In Chinese we say “嗓子在家 my voice was home”, used often by traditional opera singers to express their voice feeling good.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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This solo guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday, inspired by a little hover fly (photo below) that hung out with me while I worked out on my back porch.

According to Wikipedia:

“Hover flies (aka flower flies or syrphid flies) are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.

Hover flies are important pollinators of flowering plants in many ecosystems worldwide. They are frequent flower visitors to a wide range of wild plants, as well as agricultural crops, and are often considered the second-most important group of pollinators after wild bees. However, relatively little research into fly pollinators has been conducted compared with bee species. Bees are thought to be able to carry a greater volume of pollen on their bodies, but flies may be able to compensate for this by making a greater number of flower visits.

Case study – New Zealand

Main article: Pollinators in New Zealand

More than 40 species of syrphid flies are found in New Zealand in a variety of habitats, including agricultural fields and alpine zones. Two hover fly species in Switzerland are being investigated as potential biological control agents of hawkweeds in New Zealand.

Native hover fly species Melanostoma fasciatum and Melangyna novaezelandiae are common on agricultural fields in New Zealand. Coriander and tansy leaf are particularly attractive to many species of adults, which feed on their pollen. In organic paddocks, hover flies were found to feed on an average of three and a maximum of six different pollens. M. fasciatum has a short proboscis, which restricts it to obtaining nectar from disk flowers.

Syrphid flies are also common visitors to flowers in alpine zones in New Zealand. Native flies in alpine zones show preferences for flower species based on their colour in alpine zones; syrphid flies consistently choose yellow flowers over white regardless of species. However, syrphid flies are not as effective pollinators of alpine herb species as native solitary bees.”

Hope this piece of music and knowledge start a fresh week for you!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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Inspired by quantum mechanics, I composed this multitrack guzheng piece yesterday.

Yesterday, I read an article - Pioneering Quantum Physicists Win Nobel Prize in Physicson Quanta Magazine. As a life-long math & science fan, I found the theory and experiments of the entangled particles breathtaking. The article explains well how I hear pitches and their relations within in a whole music composition. I used pitch settings and counterpoint in music theory to relate to the relationship of the entangled photons.

As with other elementary particles, photons are best explained by quantum mechanics and exhibit wave–particle duality, their behavior featuring properties of both waves and particles. Therefore, I have started this new series of photons études.

Photon, a particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation. A photon carries energy proportional to the radiation frequency but has zero rest mass.

An étude (French) or study is an instrumental musical composition, usually short, designed to provide practice material for perfecting a particular musical skill. The tradition of writing études emerged in the early 19th century with the rapidly growing popularity of the piano. Of the vast number of études from that era some are still used as teaching material (particularly pieces by Carl Czerny and Muzio Clementi), and a few, by major composers such as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy, achieved a place in today's concert repertory. Études written in the 20th century include those related to traditional ones (György Ligeti) and those that require wholly unorthodox technique (John Cage).

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

Stay curious.

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I wrote and recorded this guzheng piece yesterday. It started on a fast etude, ended on a spacey night song style. Hope it brings good energy to your Monday.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Twitter @wufei
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A pillow from our local Publix Pharmacy.

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This guzheng multitrack composition was created and recorded yesterday. I shared the photo below with my sister-in-law who lives in New Zealand. She was surprised by how large the pumpkins were. Wish you all a beautiful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Shanah Tovah! 犹太新年快乐。This 3-track guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday evening when Rosh Hashanah 2022 started, marking the beginning of the year 5783. May the new year be full of peace and joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
Instagram @wufeimusic
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Wild ironweed blossoms are all over west Nashville.

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I am excited to share that I have finished orchestrating the full symphony version of my chamber ensemble work Hello Gold Mountain. I am sure I will revise more later, but the beast is there! It will be premiered by Lehigh University Symphony Orchestra at Baker Hall in Zoellner Arts Center on February 11th, Saturday 7:30pm, 2023.

A symphony work is a universe itself, full of surprises, adventures and coherences structured by one person’s logical and emotional choices. The result is delivered collectively by the most number of humans in music performing activity.

Today’s night song was recorded yesterday. I was thinking about the women in Iran right now while I created this piece. Thinking of them gave me enormous strength that my right hand played through a 6:40-minute double-tremolo (thumb and middle finger) in one take. I broke my own record.

Wish you all a peaceful weekend!

Wu Fei

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Yesterday, I encountered this spider web that was covered with fuzzy dandelion florets. I used myself as a background color so the spider web and the white florets could be seen better in the photo.

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This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I was inspired by the bees, the butterflies and the flowers that I walked through on top of the hills of Charlotte Pike in Nashville. I was over joy by how many wild lives I saw, especially the wild bees. They were calm, almost lazy. You’d think the bees would attack you if you are nearby. Not at all. At least not these bees. They were incredibly calm. Even the wasps were calm. I needed this walk so much after dealing with vicious hackers who tried eight straight hours to attack my facebook account on Saturday. I got my account back at last. It was a scary experience. Thanks to the bees and the flowers for helping me feel better. Stay safe on the internet and hope this piece bring you joy!

Wu Fei

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A big female eastern carpenter bee on a wild frostweed plant. I’ve read that bees are disappearing from earth. Seeing many wild bees everywhere near my home makes me feel grateful.

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Two days ago, I wrote a piece inspired by the goldenrod soldier beetles. Yesterday, I wrote a piece inspired by the devil’s nettle (photo below) — the best friend of goldenrod soldier beetles. The plant is blossoming like crazy all over the forest in west Nashville. I never knew that flowers could be blossoming in autumn much more than the spring. I was so excited by the followers that I challenged myself to record this piece at 206 beats per minute. It was an incredible finger exercise. Wish you all an adventure weekend!

Wu Fei

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Twitter @wufei
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There has been many spiderwebs in the forest. In the last two weeks, I had been bitten by spiders while hiking. I thought it was chiggers first. And then I realized I was bitten by spiders because there were always two biting marks next to each other. After doing more research, I came to peace with the spiders in the forest because I was walking through their webs. In their defense, I was an invader. I deserve it :) So I wrote a piece to show my appreciation to the spiders and their amazing webs. I always wished I had eight arms so I could pluck more strings at the same time.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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I improvised this piece on guzheng and my vocal yesterday. It is dedicated to our youth and the young loves. We all have grown, and hopefully have grown wiser. Everything we experienced made who we are today. There is only appreciation for those experiences in my heart.

I want to send my thank you to all the new paid subscribers in the last few days. Our life paths have joined from this moment. Thank you for being there for me! I also want to thank all the supporters from the very beginning of my substack launch on May 3, 2020. It has been my privilege to have you all on board to explore this fascinating life with me together. Our lives will all end at some point. Knowing my music has been on the same ride of your unique journey, I feel humbled and honored.

Wu Fei 吴非

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I have never loved a bandana so much until I discovered its best use — to mute the sustained sound of my guzheng strings. The compositional possibilities from adding one bandana to my strings are infinite!

Wu Fei 吴非

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I improvised this solo guzheng piece yesterday after reading Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1048 - 1311), was a polymath, known for his contributions to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and Persian poetry. He was born in Nishapur, the initial capital of the Seljuk Empire. As a scholar, he was contemporary with the rule of the Seljuk dynasty around the time of the First Crusade.

“Whether at Naishápúr or Babylon, whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run, The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.”

An excerpt from the poem that moved me to tears. English translation by British poet Edward FitzGerald (1809-1883).

Wu Fei 吴非

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Yesterday, I received a dear subscriber’s email asking tips about how to work on counterpoint music. He watched the video (below) that I made for self-counterpoint practice. I must say that counterpoint music is one of the more complex music forms in terms of composition and practice. The foundation to play/sing/compose counterpoint is ear training from my own experience. Being able to hear what is going on with one melody while trying to respond effectively and coherently is an immense task. I came up with a simple example in today’s post — using a folk melody from the Yao people as a motive, and then using strict canon first, then non-strict canon as the counterpoint parts. I have known the melody since I was a kid. This melody has been arranged to many versions such as solo guzheng, solo pipa, solo ruan, traditional Chinese ensemble and symphony orchestra etc. The Yao people are one of the ethnic minorities in China and reside in the mountainous terrain of the southwest and south.

I studied counterpoint music intensely (analyzed a lot of Bach’s compositions) during my high school and college years at the China Conservatory of Music. It has had profound impact to my composing and how I listen to music. I will spend more time in my future newsletters to share more about counterpoint music studies and experiences. Once again, ear training is a foundation. I’d suggest to sing and play from one single melody (preferably slow melody) as a start. Record yourself on a phone or a computer, then sing/play the same melody to the recorded track four beats later, or two beats later if its time signature is in 4/4 or 2/4 . Well, you’ve got yourself a homework now :)

Wish you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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I wrote this single melody piece on guzheng yesterday. After being with many children at a back to school party this weekend, I felt like writing something with only one line of melody to celebrate simplicity. As adults, we often forget how beautiful being simple can be. It is full of imagination, possibility and nobility, which children are.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Wu Fei 吴非

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An eastern tiger swallowtail on a thistle flower in west Nashville hills two days ago.

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This guzheng improvisation was created yesterday. I was thinking about my mother when I was playing. Since she and my father moved to Nashville from Beijing in 2019, their health has improved tremendously. As their daughter, I feel happy, lucky and proud that I can take good care of them when they are old. We do argue like all families (less and less :). My mother can only say sweet things to me, about me. She feels bad that them being here causes me and my husband trouble because my parents can’t read English nor drive. Yesterday, I had to call their pharmacy twice to sort out some problem for her prescription. She kept texting me to apologize to me right before I was about record this piece. I sent her back a sweet message to tell her not to worry at all. She has a very sweet name in Chinese. It means cloud chrysanthemum. I want to dedicate this piece to all the mothers in the world.

Wu Fei 吴非

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My mother in 1984 or 1985 in Beijing.

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This multitrack guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday. I was driving my children to their school Sunday picnic yesterday, and I heard my 7-year old son say “…The waterfall of trees I see in the reflection…” I thought it was an interesting sentence, and decided to write a piece with that impression.

Meanwhile, I continue orchestrating my symphony score for Hello Gold Mountain. Yesterday, I worked on a transitional movement that had all the woodwind and brass instruments. If you have not seen a full orchestral score, the woodwind and brass sections are always on the top of the staff.

I have been writing orchestral scores since I was a high school student at the China Conservatory of Music. The “inner image” has been developed in my head over the years, in which I hear all the instruments in my head as one whole sound (woodwind, brass, piano, harp, percussion, and strings etc..) And then, I make decisions or choices on what combinations I like the best out of the countless possibilities.

Another exciting news I’d like to share is that I have been invited by The Recording Academy GRAMMYS to be a voting member for its class of 2022. I’m honored to be part of this amazing community of talented and hardworking musicians and music professionals! And a big thank you for my Substack supporters!

Wish you all a good beginning of the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

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During my morning hike on the hills of Bellevue, TN, I saw this mushroom next to the path. It looks like a symphony score me to.

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This three-track counterpoint guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday. After two hours of working on the orchestral score of Hello Gold Mountain, I needed a change of brain.

Then I remembered my old composition professor’s home phone number back in Beijing. I used to memorize all my professors’ phone numbers in music pitches. Most of my music lessons at the China Conservatory of Music were one-on-one lessons that required me to call my teachers to schedule. 7 would be B; 5 would be G; 0 would be rest.

Every professor who taught me is remembered as a short melody. My composition professor’s number was a combination of two whole steps + a perfect 5th interval, which is the motive of this piece.

Thank you all for your support. Wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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I teach my daughter piano. I wonder what kind of “melody” I am to her ;)

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I composed and recorded this three-track guzheng piece yesterday. The lower strings were half muted by a bandana. That is why the sustain of the strings is no longer there. I also didn’t wear finger picks, so I plucked the guzheng in the way harpists play., which adds a more muted sound effect. Hope you enjoy it!

I have some work news: I have started orchestrating a symphony composition of mine: Hello Gold Mountain, a chamber orchestral work that premiered in 2018. The piece is inspired by stories of Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai from Europe during World War II. From 1933 until the end of the war, Shanghai was often the only port at which Jewish refugees fleeing Europe could disembark without a visa. In the early 1940s, more than 20,000 Jews lived in Shanghai and contributed to its cultural and civic life.

I composed this work for chamber orchestra, premiered by chatterbird ensemble, featuring myself on guzheng/voice and Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz on oud — the traditional Chinese and Jewish plucked string instruments respectively.

For the next month or so, I will be orchestrating the ensemble score of Hello Gold Mountain to a full symphony. It will be premiered by Lehigh University Symphony Orchestra on February 11th, 2023 at Zoellner Arts Center in Pennsylvania.

There’s more about Hello Gold Mountain here, and a film trailer for it here.

I’ll keep you posted about the progress. And, if you don’t see me posting photos or writing that usually go along with the music in the newsletters in the coming month, please know that I’m deep in my work on the new piece. It is a 7-movement, hour-long work. It is like writing a long novel all in music notes. I’ll let you know when the double bar lines are sealed!

Wu Fei 吴非

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A tiny baby tortoise sun bathing on the hills of Bellevue, Tennessee.

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This love song was recorded yesterday. This last weekend, we had a 3-year anniversary celebration for my parents moving to the U.S.. It has been an amazing three years for all of us, especially for my parents to move to a country they had never been. Yesterday, I realized that I had never seen them this peaceful around each other. They looked like a loving couple that I always hoped they could be when I was a child.

This folk love tune is from Midu mountain in Yunnan province, China. My mother spent six years of her youth living there during the Cultural Revolution. She was very unhappy there and she constantly dreamed of returning home to Beijing. Maybe those years were too painful for her to realize the beautiful things around her.

The folk melody in this piece is known as The Creek is Flowing from Midu. There are a lot of mountain songs from this area. Midu County is a county in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture located in western Yunnan Province, China. I hope to visit there one day.

Wu Fei 吴非

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A laughing Buddha in Midu County, Yunnan. Photo from Yunnan Exploration .

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This piece was created and recorded yesterday to celebrate Qixi Festival. The Qixi Festival (七夕), is a Chinese festival celebrating the annual meeting of Zhinü and Niulang in Chinese mythology. The festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunisolar month on the Lunar calendar. It is also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day.

According to Wikipedia, the festival was derived from worship of natural astrology. It is called "Qixi Festival" because of the traditional worship of the seventh elder sister on the occasion of her birthday, held on the seventh night of the seventh lunar month. Gradually, people celebrated for the romantic legend of two lovers, Zhinü and Niulang, who were the weaver girl and the cowherd, respectively. The tale of The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl has been celebrated in the Qixi Festival since the Han dynasty. The earliest-known reference to this famous myth dates back to over 2600 years ago, which was told in a poem from the Classic of Poetry. The Qixi festival inspired the Tanabata festival in Japan, Chilseok festival in Korea, and Thất Tịch festival in Vietnam.

《鵲橋仙》– 秦觀（1049-1100, 宋朝）

纖雲弄巧，飛星傳恨，銀漢迢迢暗度。金風玉露一相逢，便勝卻人間無數。

柔情似水，佳期如夢，忍顧鵲橋歸路。兩情若是久長時，又豈在朝朝暮暮。

Poem “Immortals at the Magpie Bridge” by Qin Guan (1049-1100) from the Song Dynasty. English translation by 許淵沖 Xu Yuanchong (1921 - 2021).

Clouds float like works of art,
Stars shoot with grief at heart.
Across the Milky Way the Cowherd meets the Maid.
When Autumn’s Golden Wind embraces Dew of Jade,
All the love scenes on earth, however many, fade.
Their tender love flows like a stream;
Their happy date seems but a dream.
How can they bear a separate homeward way?
If love between both sides can last for aye,
Why need they stay together night and day?

Wu Fei 吴非

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Can you see the double rainbow? Auckland, New Zealand in July 2022.

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After nearly two weeks of recovering from Covid, yesterday was the first day I felt I was getting close to be 100% again. I made a video of an improvisation to celebrate (see below). After making the video, I recorded this audio track in one take as the sequel. Hope it brings a moment of peace to your new week.

I’d like to thank Substack for interviewing me for What to Read, its series of newsletter recommendations. Substack has given me an easy platform to publish my music, thoughts, and get paid by subscribers. I launched my Substack in May 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, and I had to learn to self-record —a brand new skill to me.

Many thanks to you all for your generous support!

Wu Fei 吴非

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The forest I live in is full of colors in the summer. Because of the warm climate in middle Tennessee in the United States, plants grow all year long. All kinds of flowers blossom in different seasons. The Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly is back (photo below). This peaceful creature is nearly as big as my palm. I hope it realizes how beautiful it is!

Wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
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Happy Monday everyone. Hope you’ve had a restful weekend. Yesterday, I tuned my guzheng in D minor. Lately I have been drawn to minor sounding scales. Maybe it’s because the half-sized guzheng I played for more than a month in Auckland was in major scale. I couldn’t change the tuning because I brought the wrong tuning hammer with me from the U.S. to New Zealand. Now I have all the right gears again so I am doing a “major scale cleansing”. It is like craving for certain kind of food after you’ve had one kind for too long. Scales or tune colors are like sonic food to our ears. Our ears need all kinds of nutrients to stay healthy.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This sign is from Rarotonga, Cook Islands. I stood in front of this sign last month wondering why some of us wanted to travel to places that were far away from everywhere. When you get to the destination, all the numbers are just a symbol again like before we start the journey.

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When I was Auckland two weeks ago, I was amazed by how large the penguins I saw in an aquarium. They were standing so quiet and still as if they were taking a nap together. Some had their heads up like proud singers when some had their heads down like thinkers. They all had their wings open like orchestral conductors bowing to the audience after a concert. I wrote this piece yesterday to reconnect to the moment I had with the penguins.

Wish you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Greetings from Nashville, Tennessee everyone. After a long travel trip, my family and I have made it home safely from New Zealand.

The very first day after being back, we discovered that there were four baby house sparrows in the flower pot on the front porch. What a lovely surprise!

About two months ago, before we left for New Zealand, there had been a mama bird bringing a lot of sticks into the pot all day long. We were debating if we should continue watering the plant because we didn’t want to damage her nest. I am happy to share that the plant is still alive today with four young birds living with it (photo below)!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Dear subscribers, thank you for your support and patience. I am back in Auckland. Yesterday, we went to the aquarium. Although it was a small aquarium, we were still amazed by all the sea lives that were rare to see from where we lived in the U.S.. It was peaceful and beautiful. The sounds of the sea lives were very smoothing to hear. I recorded this piece after I came home. Hope it helps you to have a good night sleep tonight :)

In two days, I will be traveling back to the U.S.. It will be another long flight. I’ll be busy packing tomorrow and spending time with family as much as I can before saying good-bye. I will resume my daily post next Monday. Thank you again for your generous support!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Colorful jellyfish from the Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium in Auckland, New Zealand.

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I created this piece a few hours ago inspired by a wooden cow statue from Mission Bay in Auckland. It belongs to a restaurant. I pass by this restaurant everyday when I walk to the beach. If the wooden cow is out on the sidewalk, then I know the restaurant is open.

I used the guzheng as a percussion instrument by hitting the strings like a drum on both sides of the bridges. And then I created the vocal tracks by singing into the hole in the back of the guzheng (see photo below).

I will be traveling to the North Island this weekend, and won’t have internet again. I’ll be back next Tuesday. Thank you for your understanding and support. Hope this piece brings you a joyful moment into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Since we arrived in Auckland in June, I’ve been recording in the bedroom. My half-sized guzheng is small and doesn’t have a stand. I’ve been playing it on the floor. The carpet is good for soundproof.

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I didn’t grow up near the ocean. Marine lives or life style by the sea has always been foreign to me. Two days ago, I saw a small island out of the water near the beach where I had been walking by everyday in Auckland. “How interesting!” I thought. “It was always water, but now it’s an island.” I walked on the island to take a look what was on it. I felt like I was standing in the middle of the ocean at the end, and was much closer to the volcano site that’s in front of me (see photo below). I came home and composed/recorded this song on half-prepared guzheng. Hope it brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Happy Friday everyone! I composed this piece today after seeing a kite festival in Takaparawha Regional Park in the neighborhood of Orakei in Auckland. Both my children and I recognized the characters from our own childhoods. It was a special moment to me that we were able to enjoy the same fun memories on this one big kite from two generations! I wrote this piece to celebrate this day. Wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Yesterday, I saw three orcas, from Mission Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. They were chasing a stingray. I was surprised how close they were swimming to the shore. The locals told me that it was rare to see orcas and stingray together like that. Everyone I know in Auckland have not seen anything like that. I was extremely lucky to have such an experience!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Hi everyone, greetings from Auckland. I created and recorded this piece today on my half sized guzheng that my parent-in-laws have kept in their home in New Zealand for nearly a decade. It was my first time recording this guzheng for my daily music newsletter. I am still in the process of finding the best sound since I only brought one microphone with me on this trip.

When I was doing sound check, I started to sing into the sound hole that’s in the back of the guzheng. The overtones from the strings created by the vibration from my singing was all over the room. Therefore, I made this song out of the sound effect. I want to dedicate this piece for my parent-in-laws whom I feel very lucky to have in my life.

Wu Fei 吴非

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I was humming a tune in Rarotonga Island last week. Photo by Jeremy Goldkorn.

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Greetings from Rarotonga of the Cook Islands! It has been a restful week spending time with family here. Our host told us that we were the first American family returning to the Cook Islands since the pandemic started. No wonder the immigration officer was excited to see us when he processed our arrival cards.

The internet is very slow on the island. I will have to wait until I return to Auckland this weekend to resume my daily recordings. Thank you again for your understanding, patience and support. Wishing you all a restful week!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Greetings from Auckland! It has been so wonderful, almost surreal to be with my New Zealand family again. For a while, I feared we may never see each other again.

Some parts of Auckland have changed quite a bit since the last time I was here. Many new houses are being built. However, some parts are exactly the same, like the ocean. My children are much bigger than the last time when they played in the sand. What hasn’t changed is how much they love the beach. This piece is dedicated to the things that haven’t changed from our loved ones.

As I am traveling to the Cook Islands this weekend and not sure how stable the internet situation will be, I will do my best to keep my daily recording going. I will certainly be back on Monday, June 20.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend and Father’s Day!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Beautiful Mission Bay in Auckland.

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Good morning everyone. Hope you are all enjoying a relaxing summer holiday if you are from the northern hemisphere. By the time you hear this piece, which was recorded two days ago, I have left Nashville to New Zealand. I have family in New Zealand. We have been separated by the pandemic for more than three years. It will be a very long travel.

After Covid, the new requirements for entering New Zealand have been difficult and confusing. For this week, I will be focusing on making sure that my family and I will arrive in Auckland eventually.

Therefore, I am taking this week off until I figure out the next steps. Please enjoy all the music in my archive since my first episode published on May 3, 2020. I actually haven’t taken any week off from substack since then. I will be back most likely on Friday the 17th. Thank you very much for your understanding and generous support!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Silverleaf blooms in Tennessee right now. Photo by me.

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Greetings from Nashville again! This piece was created and recorded yesterday after I came home with much excitement and honored from Chicago. I gave my solo concert at the historical Arts Club of Chicago on June 8th. I was in awe to learn that the club presented Pablo Picasso's first United States showing in 1923. The 1951 exhibition by Jean Dubuffet and his "Anti-cultural Positions" lecture at the Arts Club were tremendous influences on what would become the mid-1960s Imagist movement.

The club has exhibited many of the 20th century's most controversial artists United States or midwest solo exhibition debuts: Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, Jean Dubuffet, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Auguste Rodin, Georges Seurat, and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. In addition, many artists have given lectures at the Club, including Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Kathleen Battle, Leonard Bernstein, Kenneth Branagh and Robert Altman. Aside from visual artists, the Club also has hosted lectures and performances of John Cage, Philip Glass, Ramsey Lewis and Igor Stravinsky, and poets W. H. Auden, Gertrude Stein and William Butler Yeats etc. etc.

Many of them were my childhood heroes. It was an incredible honor. Thank you all for your generous support!

Wu Fei 吴非

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Chicago does not lack of interesting things to look at everywhere I went.

Before I started the concert, I had to take a photo with “Head of a Women (Tete de femme)”, an original piece of Pablo Picasso. Red and black chalk wash on tan laid paper,. Laid down on lightweight Japanese paper, 1922. The Arts Club of Chicago.

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This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I was inspired by this pair of damselflies (photo below) I saw by the pond. This type damselfly is called the marsh bluet. Their colors changed from sparkly to soft depending the angles where I looked at them from above the water or under the sunlight. They flew like this in the air too. They are similar to dragonflies. Most species fold the wings along the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica. A mating pair form a shape known as a "heart" or "wheel". I saw the pair in the photo forming a heart for a moment. It was fascinating to watch the peaceful pair. Hope this song brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

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This night song was recorded yesterday after I read a poem by Xiang Hong Zuo (1798 - 1835), a poet from the Qing Dynasty of China. When I was reading this poem, I could hear birds singing non-stop in the forest. It helped me to focus again since I was awake a lot last night from a loud thunder storm. Hope this piece can help you too to fall asleep tonight. I believe you can hear the birds in the recording too. Wishing you all a restful weekend!

The poem in Chinese:

《清平乐·池上纳凉》项鸿祚 (1798- 1835, 清)

“水天清话，院静人销夏。蜡炬风摇帘不下，竹影半墙如画。
醉来扶上桃笙，熟罗扇子凉轻。一霎荷塘过雨，明朝便是秋声。”

English translation:

The summer conversations are as quite as water when people in the courtyard enjoy a summer night. The mild wind can not shake the curtain nor can blow the candle out on the torch. The bamboo shadows on the wall is like a painting.

After some wine, musicians play a mouth organ while the listeners cool themselves quietly with fans in the courtyard. A quick storm passes through the lotus pond tonight. Tomorrow, the sound of autumn may arrive.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Summer has arrived! The forest is incredibly vivid full of fragrance from the countless kinds of living creatures. I spotted this male slaty skimmer dragonfly (photo below) by the pond yesterday. It was flying on top of the water for a while, and then landed on a tree branch in front of me as if he was striking a pose for me. What a handsome dragonfly it is! Wish I could balance on a stick like that :D Hope this piece brings you a moment of balance into your busy week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

I composed and recorded this multitrack guzheng composition yesterday. The weather in Nashville has been going back and forth between sunny and storms in the last twenty four hours. Sometimes the sun and the rain were both out at the same time. Everything is growing in the forest. It looks like a jungle now — lush with dark green leaves everywhere. It is very smoothing on the eyes. Older generation in China always told me that looking at green leaves helped to relax my eyes. I believe it :) Hope this track brings you a moment joy and peace into a fresh and green weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

I composed and recorded this piece after seeing a hummingbird drinking at my feeder yesterday. The hummingbird flapped its wings so fast that I couldn’t really see the wings. Later, I learned that hummingbirds flapped their wings from about 10 to more than 80 times per second while hovering. They flap their wings even faster during the courtship display dives used by the males of some species. Moreover, hummingbirds can fly very fast, routinely attaining speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour. They triple that speed during those amazing courtship display dives. What an incredible creature it is! Bird watching always brings joy to me. Hope this piece brings you joy too!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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I’m glad the hummingbird can rest for a bit after using up so much energy to flap its wings.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This nearly 10-minute solo vocal and guzheng piece as recorded yesterday. After weeks of following the news of the lockdown in China due to the new breakout of covid, especially after a heavy news of my dear friend’s father passing away, my heart had a confrontation with my brain when I sat down to create this recording. I have known this friend since I was sixteen years old in Beijing. She is one of the most talented and beautiful erhu musicians I ever known. I call her jiejie 姐姐 — big sister. She lives in the U.S.. The rest of her family all live in China. They were hoping to reunite this year thinking civid would finally end at some point. When I saw the videos she shared of her father and her playing music together during his first visit in the U.S., I also saw myself and my own father who is living with me with good health. My father is a musician too. There was so much love and joy between my friend and her father playing music together. I couldn’t bear the pain as if I had lost my own father whom I could only remember as a happy music man while playing music even if many tragedies happened to him. Now, I cherish my father more than ever fearing that I will regret one day not taking good care of him when he was alive. But today, my father is preparing another warm and delicious meal for me and his grandchildren as I am writing this post. Thank you for reading it. It has been an emotional day. Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace into your weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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Good morning, afternoon or evening everyone. This solo guzheng improvisation piece was recorded yesterday. During my hike, I noticed these little bumps on a leaf (see photo blow) in the forest. I had to look them up on the internet and learned that they were gall wasp eggs. What a fun day to begin my day to discover something I had never heard of in my life!

According to Quogue Wildlife Refuge :

“As leaves begin to fall from their trees during the autumn season, you may find it easier to notice some very strange oddities growing in the forest. All types of bumps and growths may catch your eye, but what causes these curiosities may surprise you! Many of the growths you see in the forest are called galls, which are abnormal plant tissue that can be caused by the feeding or egg laying activities of insects like wasps!”

I came home and created this piece. Hope it brings you a moment of peace into your Monday.

I would also like to say thank you to all my subscribers, old and new. It has been an incredible and encouraging journey since I started my first episode on Substack on May 3, 2020. Connecting to you all through my music everyday is a special gift to myself as if we are growing up together, regardless where you are on this planet. Thanks to Substack for providing such an easy platform for creative individuals like me to share original work with the world, and to have financial support directly by their audience. It is like what the old Chinese idiom said “滴水穿石, constant dripping wears away a stone.” Thank you for being part of my water drop everyday!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

I composed this piece yesterday and recorded it on multitrack guzheng. It was inspired by a fantastic new harp composition I heard on Classical 91.5 Nashville radio when I was driving. I am still searching the name of the piece and the composer. All I remembered was the harpist was from Paris Conservatory. I will share the information with you as soon as I find that out. Hope this piece brings you into a adventurous weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
Instagram @wufeimusic
YouTube @wufeimusicufei

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

I composed this piece yesterday after hiking in the forest. I was amused by the tadpoles in the creek (see photo below). The ripples from the tiny movement from the tadpoles’ tales looked magical under the sunlight and the shadows of the trees. It was meditative to stare at them while listening to the sound of the water floating and the birds. And then I recorded this piece as a Mother’s Day present for my mom. Sending my best wishes to all the mothers and hope you all are starting a refreshing week!

Below is a poem written by Dylan Thomas that I felt connected to this piece:

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower

Dylan Thomas- 1914-1953

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.

The hand that whirls the water in the pool
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail.
And I am dumb to tell the hanging man
How of my clay is made the hangman's lime.

The lips of time leech to the fountain head;
Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood
Shall calm her sores.
And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind
How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.

And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb
How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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I created this piece yesterday inspired by all the bird calls I heard in the forest. All the sounds in this track are produced on the guzheng and my vocals. Hope it brings you a fun moment into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
Instagram @wufeimusic
YouTube @wufeimusicufei

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

A week ago, the very few blossoms that came out on our crabapple tree felt off. This one in the photo was the last one. Every year for two weeks, usually in the beginning of April, the tree would be covered by bright pink blossoms. My lack of knowledge about nature made me believe that the blossoms would just arrive later when the temperature became warmer. Of course it did not happen. I am patiently waiting for next year when spring comes. I will cherish the blossoms so much more.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
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Greetings from Washington D.C. everyone. This solo piece was recorded a week ago in Nashville. The wild azalea finally blossomed. I had been waiting for them for weeks. I hope there will be more when I get back home in a few days.

If you are in D.C., I am playing a solo concert at The Kennedy Center on April 30th, Saturday. Hope there is still ticket available. Would love to see you there!

Info & tickets:

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/young-audiences/2021-2022/wu-fei/

Wish you all a beautiful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com
Twitter @wufei
Instagram @wufeimusic
YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This piece was recorded on prepared-guzheng on April 22nd, last Friday. I decided to put all the keychain rings I could find in the house on the strings. After laying down all the plucking sound clusters, I used my tuning fork like a mallet to hit the high strings to create a short melody. Hope it brings a moment of fun to your Monday.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This multitrack guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday. I have missed playing gamelan. I started learning how to play Balinese gamelan music when I was at Mills College in California. My teacher and classmate Pak Windha taught me every instrument in a gamelan ensemble. It was one of the most amazing music experiences in my life. This piece is inspired by gamelan and the time I spent at Mills College.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This spring has been cold in Nashville compared to last year. It is the first year we’ve lived here that our crabapple tree did not blossom. There were probably no more than 80 flowers that came out, and then there was a cold snap. Last year there must have been more than a thousand blossoms.

The whole forest is not as colorful as usual. That makes the white azalea (photo below) extra precious as they are blossoming alone.

Meanwhile, I would like to share with you that my new website wufeimusic.com has a brand new look now. Everything there is up-to-date. Please visit the site and hope I’ll be giving concerts near where you are.

Wu Fei 吴非

Twitter @wufeiInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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The first hummingbird of 2022 has arrived! I was taking photos of the flowers. A minutes later, I heard a loud buzz sound next to my ear. I thought it was a wasp at first. Then I realized it was a hummingbird. It was not scared of me being next it. And then, I wrote this piece. Wishing you all a Happy Passover, Easter, Ramadan, and a beautiful spring weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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Yesterday, I looked up into the sky and saw this view (photo below). Look how many planes! “The pandemic is over”, I thought.

Nashville’s sky have always been busy. I especially started noticing the frequent flights when I started this recording project at home because I could hear every plane when it flew on top of my house. I have to pause the recording every time to wait for the noise to be gone.

But yesterday, the sky seemed much busier, a whole new level. Oh sweet Nashville, can you slow down a little bit?

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This multitrack guzheng composition was created yesterday, in spired by the dancer-like wooden stick waving in the wind (photo below). The sun was warm, the air was crisp, the wind was chilly. The shape of the stick reminded me a Peking Ppera performer when s/he paused with the gongs together. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy into the weekend.

I am also very excited and honored to share that I will be giving a solo recital at The Kennedy Center on April 30, Saturday at 11am. There will be QA at the end of the concert. If you will be in Washington D.C. that weekend, please come to see me and say hi! Concert and tickets details:

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/young-audiences/2021-2022/wu-fei/

Wish you a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Today is the Qingming Festival also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, a traditional Chinese festival. During Qingming, Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray to their ancestors and make ritual offerings. The Qingming Festival has been observed by the Chinese for over 2,500 years.

I wrote this composition yesterday to dedicate to my family members who are no longer with me.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday on a beautiful sunny day in Nashville, Tennessee. After a week in London spending time with family, I was inspired by every minute in the magical home of uncle Gren and aunt Juliet in London. There were endless fun old collections in their house to look at, like these meerkats (photo below). I had my eyes closed in my studio in Nashville and thought about the cute little creatures while I created this piece. Hope it brings you a joyful moment to begin the week!

I want to thank Bill Bishop of the Sinocism newsletter on Substack for his support over the years. Sinocism is a great way to get a smart take on news and politics in China every day, from a dear friend who really gets Beijing.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This composition was created nine days ago on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. I have been learning more about how to lay tracks down to prepare for a solo section all done by myself. It takes a very different structural planning in terms of timing, phrasing, accenting so that the overall result can flow naturally. Our brain can usually work in linear path. However, with training, it can foresee or forehear multilayers at the same time. I call it “inner image”. Hope this piece will bring powerful energy into your weekend!

If you want a different way to receive and listen to my daily tracks, Substack now has an iPhone app called Substack Reader. It includes an audio player that makes it very easy to find and listen to my music here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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Photo taken in Borough of Hackney in London a week ago. The cutest stone dog ever!

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I recorded this nocturne five days ago. It helped me to do deep breathing and swim in my imaginations. Hope it brings you a moment of peace at the beginning of your week.

If you want a different way to receive and listen to my daily tracks, Substack now has an iPhone app (Substack Reader) that includes an audio player that makes it very easy to find and listen to my music here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

Photo below was taken yesterday, on the barge of the UK’s only floating puppet theatre — the Puppet Theatre Barge in Little Venice in London.

https://www.puppetbarge.com

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This fun solo guzheng piece was recorded four days ago. I have started playing more without picks lately. It gives warmer tone than plucking with the picks on. However, it is harder to play without picks. Picks do deliver more accuracy, speed and volume. Hope this piece brings a moment of playfulness into your weekend!

If you want a different way to receive and listen to my daily tracks, Substack now has an iPhone app (Substack Reader) that includes an audio player that makes it very easy to find and listen to my music here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufemusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This waltz was composed and recorded on guzheng yesterday, performed by me. Yesterday, I learned about a friend who had been going through a cancer recovery. He has been one of my very first substack supporters since I launched this music daily project in May 2020. His name is Richard. We occasionally exchange thoughts on music and history topics that we both have a lot of passions for. I hope this track help him go through any treatment he’s going through on Monday. If you have any friends or family members who are going through health issues, or yourselves, hope this piece of music can help you forget the pain for a moment.

If you want a different way to receive and listen to my daily tracks, Substack now has an iPhone app (Substack Reader) that includes an audio player that makes it very easy to find and listen to my music here.

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily!

Best wishes,

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

This solo guzheng and vocal improvisation was recorded yesterday. The melody I sang was inspired by a song that I’ve loved since I was a child. It is from the TV series —Dream of the Red Chamber 红楼梦 (1987), composed by Wang Liping 王立平 (1941), based on the classic novel.

Prof. Wang spent more than a year to finish composing and orchestrating all the music for the 36-episode TV dram series. The day before yesterday, I saw a beautiful sunset in the forest (photo below). The colors were breathtaking. The entire forest was light orange for 10 minutes during sunset. I had to take a photo. Then, I realized how amazing the trees looked in the photo. They look like an upside down Chinese gold locket that small children traditionally wear as a good luck charm, and that reminded me of a character from the novel Dream of the Red Chamber. Her name is Xue Baochai 薛宝钗, and I remembered a melody from the TV series rose from my chest. That was when I improvised this piece.

If you want a different way to receive and listen to my daily tracks, Substack now has an iPhone app that includes an audio player that makes it very easy to find and listen to my music here. An Android version is also coming, apparently.

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily, and wishing you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #534 — Leaps and trills 润物无声.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me.

Acorn is bright red when it sprouts in the spring. It happens quietly, yet powerfully. It falls from the tree to the ground, grows into the soil. It breaks the brown shell, and splits in half for the next life cycle. It deserves to be bright red for all its determination to grow.

Hope this piece starts a calm week for you.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #533 — Bluet’s blues 蓝号子.

This piece was created and recorded on vocal and guzheng yesterday, performed by me. The tiny bluets (photo below) are coming out of the ground. There will be a lot of them very soon, although I only saw these three yesterday. They are the pioneers of their pack for the year!

Wishing you a colorful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy International Women’s Day!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #530 — The silver sandals 银色趿拉板儿.

It is a free newsletter to all my subscribers to celebrate International Women’s Day.

This fun composition was created and recorded yesterday on percussion and vocals, performed by me. I hit the wooden body of my guzheng with my fingers that made the percussive sounds. I did not know where I was going with this piece at the beginning. After laying down all the percussion tracks, I felt like making silly vocal sounds. Then this piece was born. Hope it brings a fun moment to your busy day!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #529 — A belated waltz 迟到的华尔兹.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack and partly prepared guzheng, performed by me. I put two key chain rings on two strings to prepare the bell-like sound from the strings. The difference of the timbres create a sensation of an off-beat delay in the 3/4 time signature. It was a fun experiment. Maybe it’s all in my head :) Hope it brings you a moment of freshness into the week.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #528 — Six echoes 六声轮.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on guzheng and vocal, performed by me. I felt like singing again to welcome the fresh breathe, the hot sun, the bright flowers. The shift from freezing night to sweaty noon happened just like that. To nature, that is normal. To modern humans who have been segregated from nature, we are unprepared and shocked by the slightest change. Have we evolved or devolved? I am sure these daffodils will be blossoming as fully next year again.

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

Photo by me from yesterday in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #524 — Guzheng night song 18 古筝夜曲十八号.

This guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. The world has been shockingly disturbing in the last week, especially the last twenty four hours in Europe. I have to be honest that I struggled to stay calm and positive about the future at this very moment. I feel very fortuned to have been connecting to you all with my music everyday. Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace when we all enter another unknown day. A moment of peace now seems to be so precious.

Most sincerely,

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #523 — Charging the silk 蚕丝阵.

This guzheng etude was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. I read about how silk was made in China more than 5000 years ago. Silkworms are the larvae of Bombyx mori moths. The caterpillars eat only mulberry leaves. When they get big, they spin two threads of silk from the sides of their body. A gummy substance called servicing makes the threads stick together. The silkworm wraps these threads around itself to form a cocoon.

To make silk, workers collect the cocoons. Some are set aside to hatch into moths, to make more silkworms. The rest of the cocoons are boiled to kill the larvae inside. Then workers unwind the silk, very carefully. The strand from one cocoon can be 1,000 feet (300 m) long! I am stunned again by all of this process. To unwind my brain, I made this piece.

Wish you all get to re-charge yourselves over the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #519 — The apple farmer’s secret 苹果秘笈.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. There was an article in Ask magazine about grafting — an old trick the ancient Greeks came up with in 400 BCE for growing sweeter apples. That was around the same time when the guzheng appeared in China. This new piece is like the “apple” after me grafting the two ancient times into one.

Hope you will do be grafting something new out of old traditions this week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

In 2011, I discovered this section of the Great Wall with my husband in the countryside of Beijing in the northeast region. There was very few people in that area. Standing next to the tower and looking down the cliff, I wondered “How did people build this thing?!”

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #518 — A bumpy telegram 颠簸的电报.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me. My daughter made her own U.S. postal letter to her father yesterday. She shared an interesting story with him in the letter. As she was reading it to us, my brain was instantly taken to a world where I started making up my own sequel to her story. This piece is that sequel.

Hope you all are having a fantastic weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

I visited a beautiful village called Cuandixia in the countryside of Beijing in 2011. The village is 400 years old, founded in the Ming Dynasty. You can read more about it here.

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Happy Lantern Festival and Valentine’s Day!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #514 — Slicing the wind 风片儿.

This guzheng composition was created yesterday, performed by me. It got much colder in Nashville all of a sudden. I saw ice shaped like this on the ground (photo below). After searching on the internet, many similar patterns came up that were from rocks, trees, clouds, fossil, dust, plants etc. except ice. It is so interesting. Maybe it was caused by wind while the waster was becoming ice. What a wonderland the planet earth is! Hope you get to solve a fun mystery this week and have sweet desert on the double holiday!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #513 — Snapping the burning man 火人镖.

This composition was created yesterday on multitrack guzheng and vocals, performed by me. I saw this modern-art looking wood in the woods yesterday (photo below). Who knows how many times it had been struck by lightening. It looks like it’s running away from me.

Hope you are entering a fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #509 — Giggling sorghum 高粱咯咯.

This piece was composed and recorded three days ago, performed by me on multitrack guzheng. It was a cold day when I wrote this piece. My fingers needed a lot of warm up. So I decided to record this whole process of how I got to the “warm” and “relaxed” stage at the end.

Hope you are having a great warm up day to kick off this week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #508 — Six gourds on a boat 六条葫芦船.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me on multitrack guzheng. One of my family traditions during lunar new year is my mother making a sweet sticky rice / dates dessert. This year, she made a 吉 dessert (photo below). The character means “luckiness”. After I had the delicious dessert, this composition was born.

I will be on the road to Purdue University to give a concert with my dear friend banjo player /singer-song writer Abigail Washburn when you read this newsletter. We will probably be driving through snow in Indiana. Hope you all are staying safe wherever you are this weekend! If you are in Purdue University area, come to see us play to celebrate lunar new year!

Date: February 5, Saturday

Time: 8pm

Venue: Leob Playhouse

Concert detail and tickets on www.Purdue.edu .

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #504 — Tiger prelude 水虎序.

This piece was created yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. In two days, we will enter the year of the Water Tiger. I am utterly excited about this lunar new year, so I wrote this piece to welcome the big spring festival!

Speaking of big spring, I want to reach out to you about a project that I am excited to be working on and hope that you can collaborate with me on this. We all know and feel the power that music has to bring people together and we all know and feel how distant many Americans feel from each other these days.

The project is called Ear To The Common Ground and we are taping it this April in a barn, on Cash Ln in Music City in a special place that once was the home of Country Music Hall Of Fame members June Carter, Carl Smith, Marty Stuart, Patsy Cline, Jim Denney, Mother Maybelle Carter as well as Carlene Carter, Cindy Cash and more. The series will air next fall on PBS and each of the 12 episodes will have one artist and one topic. Eight fans of each artist will come together and each will bring a dish to the table.

The series will highlight the wonderful diversity of America in many ways: ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, geography and most importantly the project will celebrate the diversity of thought and opinion. Episodes will feature: Kyshona Armstrong, Gustavo Guerrero, Sam Lewis, Louis York, She Returns From War, Sister Sadie, Frank Solivan, Minton Sparks, SUSTO, Sweet Lizzy Project, and me.

We can disagree with our fellow Americans on issues but we can also break bread with them, laugh with them, respect them, have compassion for them and hopefully find some common ground. A show like this should be on television and now, it will! Each episode is 30 minutes long and will feature a diversity of opinions on each issue: right, left and middle. At the end of the dinner party, I will bring a dessert to share and then perform a few songs in the spirit that music and food brings people together.

The issue that will be discussed in my episode is Immigration and the date is April 23, 2022 (Saturday). If you would like to be considered, you can reach out to producer Becca Finley at simplybbecca@gmail.com, or by text 843-819-7811. Please include your name, email, and {insert my name}.

Here’s some logistics for the guests will need:

to be available in Madison, TN on your date, from 3-10pm,

be willing to bring a dish to serve 8-10, and

be willing to have a conversation.

I hope you will consider reaching out and joining us to show that the vast majority believe in compassion for others opinions over contempt and that, face to face, with humility and grace we can keep our ears tuned in to the common ground.

I know this is a big ask from your time. However, when the production team reached out to me, you were among the first group of friends whom I thought would have so much to share with the country and to inspire people, and hopefully to heal many hearts. It will be my honor to play music for you, enjoy each other’s food and accompany on the beautiful barn on Cash Ln (last two photos below).

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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Water tiger of Memphis! Photo by me yesterday.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #503 — Elle from Montréal 艾老师.

This multitrack vocal + guzheng piece was composed yesterday, performed by me. I would like to dedicate it to a very special woman who has touched our family since we moved to Nashville in 2015. Her is name Helene “Elle” Harvey, teacher, director, and founder of A New Leaf and Pip and Pickles Farm.

When we moved to Nashville nearly seven years ago, we had the hardest time to find a preschool for our daughter. She was two and a half years old. Almost every pre-school was full with a waiting list that was at least two years long.

After months of searching, someone referred A New Leaf to us. We called. Elle had an opening. How magical! My husband and I had been feeling utterly frustrated and discouraged by that point that we were ready to be stay-home parents for a while until anyone had an opening. We were relieved. Not only had we found a school for our daughter, but also it was an amazing one. It was in the middle of forest! What?! The teachers were amazing! We felt we’d won a lottery.

Over the years, we’ve been constantly impressed by Elle’s vision of education and determination to push her mission forward. Nashville was moving fast and slow at the same time. Fast, because there were more than 100 people moving here every day from elsewhere. Slow, because the city government has been slow in making decisions to catch up with the rapid pace of the city’s growth, especially helping schools to grow.

Rent was sky rocketing when many new families needing to find schools for their children. Elle was leading her pack (teachers, students and parents) running all over town trying to survive. We followed her. We wanted her to succeed. Our children loved her. At one point, the school had a few weeks gap before it could move into a new campus building, Elle continued the school in a park. That was an amazing experience for me to pull through with her and all the families that were together.

After years of hard work, Elle finally bought a farm in Nashville where she didn’t have to move around the school any more. It is called Pip & Pickle’s Farm. Since then, she has attracted several wonderful teachers to join her, and many more families have joined A New Leaf.

A New Leaf is having their annual Bare Branch Festival on April 23, Saturday at Pip & Pickles Farm ( 4341 Pecan Valley Road) in Nashville. There will food, music, family activists (playing with goats and chickens) on the farm. Check out the update on their school website here . Read more about Elle’s story from Montréal to Nashville here.

You rock, Elle! Nashville is so lucky to have you!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #500 — Charlotte lullaby 1 夏洛特摇篮曲之一.

This vocal and guzheng piece was recorded last night. After a busy day driving my family all over town, I finally had a moment to practice music. It had been a while since I recorded music at night time. Playing music in the dark brings out very different of yearning from me. In my head, I was singing to my children a bedtime song. Somehow it felt like it was the same bed time tune my mother sang to me. I hope it brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #499 — Pot bellies 冰塔.

This multitrack guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me. I was amused by these cool looking icicles (photo below) and wrote this song for them. It was fun putting this composition together. Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #498 — Frisbee turtle 飞盘龟.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. My daughter was reading the latest issue of a magazine that seh reads called Ask.

She was naming some pictures on a page and I heard “Frisbee turtle”. How perfect! I gave myself a proposition to write a new song with this title. Both my children liked the song when I played it for them later. Hope it brings you a moment of joy into your weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

Wild mushrooms are awesome looking creatures!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Tuesday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #495 — A boot in the woods 草靴子.

Hope you had a wonderful long weekend if you were in the U.S.. I celebrated Martin Luther King Day by creating this piece yesterday on guzheng. It has been raining and snowing in the last few days in Nashville. I got to see all kinds of different scenes in the forest. One day, I saw a boot (photo below) during hiking. It is the most interesting boot I have ever seen. Nature + time = art.

I hope you are having an artistic week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #494 — Moon hunter 月球猎人.

This composition was created yesterday, performed by me on multitrack guzheng. When I look at the photo below, I see endless patterns — random on the surface when every piece of flake coming from the same origin. The patterns look like a song. And then, I went down a rabbit hole of peeling the song from my head onto my strings.

Hope you are entering a magical weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #490 — In my pitches 字里行间.

This piece was created yesterday, performed by me on partly prepared guzheng. I had a fun time watching the birds eating on our bird feeder the last few days. Their interaction with each other while they ate was quite interesting. There were timid birds. There were brave birds. One day, I saw a chubby bird hanging upside down on our feeder. I thought the bird had become friendly with us and being playful. After about a minute, it was still hanging there in the same position and not flying away when we moved closer to the window to observe it. The birds usually fly away as soon as they feel the humans inside being close to them. My daughter was watching the bird the whole time as well. She realized there was something wrong with the bird. The bird was not playing at all. One of its legs got stuck in between the metal wires of the feeder that were were supposed to help birds to grasp with their claws when they eat. I rushed out to help the poor thing. Before I could put my hands on the bird, it got itself out of the wires and flew away out of desperation. The bird was ok. It flew back to the feeder later in the day. Afterwards, I recorded this piece.

Hope you are starting an interesting and a calm week.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #489 — The silent fable 无声的寓言.

This vocal and guzheng piece was created and performed by me yesterday.

The snow came down quickly and quietly in the morning yesterday. It went from nothing on the ground to an inch of snow in less than 10 minutes. I tried to listen to the sound of the massive snow flakes. I heard so much sound that my skin could feel the flakes dropping on the ground. The male red cardinals looked extra red and fat standing on the branches gazing into the forest. They must have seen so much more of the world than us humans. If I could be something else in my next life, I wish I could be a bird.

Wish you a peaceful weekend.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #485 — Lady Crane 鹤夫人.

This composition was created yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me.

The scale is a combination of major, minor and the Balinese gamelan scale. The timbre is a mixture of open strings and half muted overtones.

The photo below is of a Chinese vase that I saw in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York last month. It is from the Qing Dynasty Kangxi mark and period (1662-1722).

The ladies in the painting look like they are having a great time hanging out together!

Hope you are starting a wonderful first week of 2022!

Wu Fei 吴非

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Year everyone,

2022 is just around the corner. It has been another year that we all have been trying to move forward in the middle of the pandemic. Every now and then I realize how far I have made posting new music here. But most of the time, I don’t even think about it. It has become such a fun part of my daily life, especially when I know I am connecting to so many of you all over the world. So, thank YOU for being the best listeners and supporters in the world! What a lucky person I am to have such a gift from you all!

Without further ado, let me introduce episode #484 — Tiling in the steam 蒸腾. This piece is to all my subscribers. I am going to take the rest of this week off. The next newsletter will return on Jan 3, Monday, 2022.

Hope you enjoy this upbeat piece on multitrack guzheng. I composed it yesterday. Happy new year to you all! See you in 2022! 新年快乐！

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #481 — Sweeping round and round 七月的北斗.

This piece was created yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. The inspiration was from a painting on a ceramic vase (photo below) that I saw in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City recently. It was from the Qing Dynasty (1644- 1911) period. The vase was quite big, at least 3 feet tall. The picture below was on the neck area of the vase. I was excited to see the zither (like the guzheng) painted on the beautiful vase. It was such an incredible piece of art!

I’d like to share the description I read for the ceramic section at The Met:

“Ceramics, Science, and Scholarship

Chinese appreciation for the ceramics began in the either century, when certain wares were extolled for their beauty and for their appropriateness for drinking tea. Study of ceramics was further refined in the eighteenth century when scholars such as Tang Ying (1682-1756), supervisor of the imperial kilns at Jindezhen 景德镇 who was spurred by contemporaneous interest in the study and classification of many topics, published five seminal volumes on the history and production of porcelain. One of Tang’s foreign friends was Pere Francois-Xavier Dentrecolles (1664-1741), a Jesuit priest assigned to open a church in Jingdezhen. Dentrecolles, who also translated Chinese accounts of medical practices and remedies and tea and silk cultivation,, wrote lengthy letter on the manufacture of porcelain, the first Western descriptions of the production of this material. Written in 1712 and 1722, these descriptions contributed to the development of Europe's own porcelain tradition, which began in 1708 in the German town of Meissen, thanks to the work of Johann F. Bottger (1682-1719) and Ehrenfried W. Von Tschirnhaus (1651-1708), both of whom had trained in the rapidly developing European scientific tradition that marked the Age of Enlightenment.

In Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, scientific analysis of Chinese porcelain paralleled aesthetic appreacition. Many of the terms used in Western languages to catalogue Qing-dynasty (1644-1911) porcelains are based on the work of the writer and collector Albert Jacquemart (1808-1875). Jacquemart, who published a history of ceramics in 1873 that included discussions of Babylonian, Egyptian, and Greek and Roman ceramics, divided Chinese porcelains pained with colored enamels into families based on the predominant color in the decoration. For example, porcelain in whihc green dominates is termed famille verte (green family) , while ceramics in which pink tones prevail are famille rose (pink family). Evocative French terms are also used in Western scholarship to describe the elegant monochrome glazes that cover later porcelains, such as claire-de-lune (moonlight) for a blue/grey glaze. Chinese scholarship uses different terms to describe the palette of enamels and the colors of glazes. For example, porcelain painted with enamels over the glaze are generally known as susancai (plain three colors), while those in which pink tones are dominant are sometimes catalogued as yangcai (foreign colors) or ruancai (soft colors); the Chinese term for the moonlight glaze is tian lan, or “heavenly blue.”

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #478 —North of the river 河北.

This vocal and guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday, performed by me. The holiday traveling week has begun. I feel very lucky and grateful for having my family with me for another holiday. Meanwhile, I feel sad for not being with my New Zealand family for another holiday. Wherever you are traveling to now, I hope you spend time with your loved ones, and hope that many more holiday gear things to come.

I will take this Friday off. My next free newsletter will resume on Monday the 27th.

Wish you all a merry Christmas ㊗️大家圣诞快乐！

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #477 — Bartók’s butterfly 巴托克蝴蝶.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me on multitrack guzheng. In the previous episode #476, I was inspired by Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967). This piece, I am inspired by another Hungarian composer Béla Bartók (1881-1945). The two composers were very close colleagues and friends during their active career years. As a young composition student, I studied and performed both of their chamber and choral music extensively.

Bartók was a composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century; he and Franz Liszt are regarded as Hungary's greatest composers. (Ah, I must do an episode on Liszt, another super interesting composer.) Through Bartók‘s collection and analytical study of folk music, he was one of the founders of comparative musicology, which later became ethnomusicology.

Bartók displayed notable musical talent very early in life: according to his mother, he could distinguish between different dance rhythms that she played on the piano before he learned to speak in complete sentences. By the age of four he was able to play 40 pieces on the piano and his mother began formally teaching him the next year.

When I studied his music in high school, I fell in love with his music, especially the way he structured rhythms on piano and chamber music. I had never felt that “groove” from any previous classical compositions. I had to figure out what his “myths” was. After analyzing phrase by phrase, measure by measure, I found out that he often used a form of symmetrical structure built on a sequence of consecutive numbers to shape the chosen pitches, like 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1, like a butterfly. I was stunned and enlightened when I discovered this pattern.

If you want to read more about Béla Bartók, which I highly recommend, you can read it here. His piano solo works are beautiful and very interesting.

Wish you all a beautiful and interesting weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #473 — Sleeping, walking 行入睡.

This piece was created and recorded on guzheng, performed by me. Last Friday, we experienced a very scary moment when the quad-state tornado came through Nashville. It was at 3:30am when the tornado siren went off on my phone. I could hear the storm screaming louder and louder in the forest when I got my children out of their beds and ran downstairs. All kinds of crazy thoughts went through my head while I was waiting for the tornado to pass.

Since then, I have been following the very devastating aftermath in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Illinois. It was a massive tornado that swiped on top of us. We are extremely lucky to not be affected. I recorded this piece to share my condolence to the people who lost loved ones.

Hope you are all safe wherever you are right now.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #472 — The great whistle 大哨.

This guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I didn’t wear finger picks for this recording. Every now and then, I like to feel the direct connection between my fingers and the strings. It gives a softer tone than the sound produced by finger picks. Playing without picks also gives me perspectives on what part of the muscles on my hands I should work on, and what pieces sound better without the picks. It’s all about trying different approaches so I can understand myself and the instrument better.

Wising you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #468 — Fifty seven feet 五十七尺.

This guzheng composition was created yesterday, performed by me. I was trying to minimize the movement on my hands to stay leveled with the strings in the calmest manner I could, like when a humming bird drinks nectar — the more relaxed its body is, the faster its wings flap. Therefore, the more stable the humming bird’s head is, the easier it can drink the nectar.

Hope you all are starting Monday with a clear goal for the rest of the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #467 — The purple fish escape plan 紫鱼阵.

This composition was created yesterday on multitrack prepared guzheng, performed by me. I gave myself another challenge in this piece — playing the tempo at 190 beats per minute. I felt a little hesitant to begin the recording with 16th notes. Right around 2:20, my heart and fingers were ready. It was such a liberating feeling when I went for it!

Wish you all a fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #463 — Kalimba night song 1 卡林巴夜曲一号.

Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving holiday if you are in the U.S.. Hanukkah 2021 has started since Sunday. Hope you are having a wonderful festival if you celebrate this Jewish tradition.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on kalimba and guzheng, performed by me. My dear uncle Ron and aunt Barbra gave me a kalimba as a gift over thanksgiving. I can’t think of a better gift that I’d love more than an instrument. So I made my first piece right away.

Hope you are starting a fantastic week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #461 — Grandma Zhao 赵姥姥.

This piano piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. It was a rainy and grey day in Nashville. Weather always effects our mood and thoughts. I walked in my studio not having any artistic direction. As soon as I touched the keys on the piano, a wicked old lady walked in my brain.

Hope you all starting a good week whether you are staying where you are, or traveling for Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.. I am going to take half of a week off starting on Wednesday the 24th, and resume the newsletter on Monday the 29th.

Thank you for your generous support to my music! I feel lucky and grateful to be connecting to you, growing with you everyday in the most precious way. Xie xie 谢谢🙏

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #460 — Nature is slippery 初秋，出溜.

This piano piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. The hiking paths in the forest are covered by leaves. The steep hills are very slippery to walk on. I fell on my elbow yesterday. Luckily, I wasn’t hurt. And then I realized that the paths are always slippery whether there are no leaves but small rocks, or when they are muddy after rain.

Hope you all are having a fun and not slippery weekend! Or try not to fall if you walk on slippery places.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Instagram @wufeiumusic

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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Hiking with my family

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #456 — Old toys, new toys 旧爱新欢.

This guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me. It is a piece entirely built on tremolos.

My son recently re-discovered a bunch of old toy cars of his in our smoke house. Apparently he didn’t remember having them, but was over joyed that the toys were still there. He brought them back to the house and lined them up neatly (photo below). I saw them right before I stepped into my studio. And then I came up with this piece.

Hope you all are starting a week with fun surprises!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #455 — Ground full of pears 梨花漫.

This piece was composed and recorded on prepared multitrack guzheng, performed by me.

It has been an exciting week for me. I flew on a plane for the first time since February 2020! Seeing earth from the sky again felt amazing. I did not want to take it for granted so I stared at the ground for a long long time. The clouds, the mountains, the rivers… I have missed seeing their beauty from this angle (see photo below).

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

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Greetings from North Carolina everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #452 — Five star bug motel 五星厦.

This solo guzheng composition was created and recorded two days ago, performed by me. It is another piece that I prepared the guzheng partially.

This newsletter is free for everyone because I am excited to announce that the tickets for my solo concert at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. went on sale today! Ticket link:

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/young-audiences/2021-2022/wu-fei/

Discover the music of an ancient Chinese instrument.

WU FEI is a renowned master of the guzheng, the 21-string Chinese zither. She plays in the guzheng’s language—almost 2,000 years old—by mixing Western classical and Chinese traditions with a contemporary sound. The classically trained composer and vocalist has taken her music around the world to venues such as the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and New York’s MoMA, and collaborated with renowned artists across disciplines and genres.

Most enjoyed by 8+

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #451 — Crispy steel 铁钉令.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on guzheng, performed by me. I prepared the guzheng with two metal rings, and a bandanna. I also plucked a few microtone strings on the left side of the bridges. It was a fun experiment orchestrating all the sounds and pitches.

Hope you are starting off a week full of experimentations. I am off to the airport now to start mine. See you all tomorrow with an exciting announcement!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #450 — B minor 181 毕家一百十八拍.

This guzheng piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. The inspiration came from Masada. In Hebrew is מצדה‎ metsada, — "fortress". Masada is an ancient fortification on top of an isolated rock plateau on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea 20 km (12 mi) east of Arad.

According to Josephus, the siege of Masada by Roman troops from 73 to 74 CE, at the end of the First Jewish–Roman War, ended in the mass suicide of 960 Jewish rebels who were hiding there.

181 in the title = 181 beats per minute, which was the tempo I played this piece. It was quite an exercise for my fingers!

Wishing you all a restful and energetic weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.comTwitter @wufeiFacebook @realwufeimusicInstagram @wufeimusicYouTube @wufeimusic

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #446 — Falling syrup 糖人儿.

This piano piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. The inspiration is from 糖人— sugar people.

Sugar people is a traditional Chinese form of folk art using hot, liquid sugar to create three-dimensional figures (see photo below).

These fragile, plump figures have a distinct brownish-yellow color. They are mainly for ornamental purposes, not for consumption but you can eat them. Popular figures include animals such as dragons, roosters and pigs, and objects such as machetes and spears.

Traditionally, artists set up their sugar studios in areas such as markets, and outside schools, as the figures appeal to children. These days, this art form is practiced in tourist areas.

There used to be sugar artists selling their eatable paintings in the hutongs of the neighborhood where I grew up in Beijing. That was my occasional dessert.

Hope you are starting a sweet week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #445 — Ball of big teeth 大牙之舞.

This piano piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me. I love the pumpkins at my children’s school that are carved by all the talented parents (see photo below). They are hilarious!

Wish you all a fantastic Halloween weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufemusic

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #442 — Old road to Memphis 故途.

This piano composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me.

Driving can be very meditative, especially in rural areas. This hobby has taken me to forty five states of the U.S.. I hear sound in my head every second while I am behind the wheel.

Nature stuns me, and I respond with my hearing sense as my eyes and ears are twins or soulmates. This is the sound I was hearing in my head while seeing this view last week (photo below.)

Hope you are having your Monday with a lots of imaginations!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #441 — The eighth epic pepper 八大椒.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday. All instrumental and vocal tracks are performed by me. I used a southern sanxian (Chinese three-string fretless lute) 三弦 for all the plucked string tracks and the percussion part.

It was a very fun experiment for me creating this piece. I just had a silly moment that I wanted to capture: The photo below was taken today, eleven years ago in Prince Gong’s Palace 恭王府 in Beijing. I went to school inside this palace for six years when I was a student at China Conservatory of Music in the 1990s. All my best memories happened there from my youth time.

The palace became a museum in 2006. My school had to move out after being there for decades.

Prince Gong's Mansion is a museum and tourist attraction located in Xicheng District, Beijing, just north of the Shichahai Lake. It consists of large siheyuan-style mansions and gardens. Originally constructed for Heshen, an official highly favoured by the Qianlong Emperor, it was later renamed after Prince Gong, a Manchu prince and influential statesman of the late Qing dynasty, who inhabited the mansion in the late 19th century.

You can read more about Prince Gong’s Palace (or Prince Gong’s Mansion) here, Prince Gong’s Folly, edited by Claire Roberts and my dear friend Geremie Barmé published by China Heritage Project, The Australia National University.

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! 周末愉快！

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #437 — Batman queen genie 蝙蝠精灵.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on multi-tremolo guzheng. Every tremolo with new pitches were started eighteen seconds after the previous one was introduced. Gradually, a sound cluster was built. Every tremolo was ended because my fingers were exhausted. That’s how this piece was structured.

Hope your week is starting with magical and peaceful energy.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #436 — Sichuan dollhouse 娃寨.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on multi-vocal tracks, sung/spoken by me. It draws from the tradition of Luogu 锣鼓经. Luogu literally means "gongs and drums."

Luogu is a Chinese percussion ensemble that typically comprises several types of drum and several types of metal idiophone (including gongs and cymbals) and wooden idiophone (including temple blocks and Chinese claves).

Luogu is commonly used as an accompaniment in Chinese opera including Kun opera, Beijing opera and Cantonese opera and accompaniment for lion dance. In Chinese opera, luogu provides the basic rhythmic background for songs, speech, movements, dances and martial arts. It is also played for the entrance and exits of actors and transition between scenes.

Luogu helps to describe the environment, depicting the characters and commenting on the actions. Luogu is also used to produce sound effects such thunder or waves.

I studied Beijing (Peking) opera ensemble music for a year when I was a young student. Before the students were allowed to play the percussion instruments, we must learn how to sing the rhythms like what I did in this recording.

Hope you are having a fun weekend, or about to have one!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

翻绳— A string transforming game I used to play as a child.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #432 — Si la re mi 老电话.

This composition was created yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. I used four pitches as the motif for the entire piece. They are singing pitches: si la re mi in solfège. Solfège is a music education method used to teach aural skills, pitch and sight-reading of Western notation music. Singing solfège has been in music education in China since my parents were in elementary school. It has been widely taught in public schools for nearly a century.

When I was in middle-high school, telephones became popular in China. Memorizing phone numbers became a new phenomenon. My classmates at China Conservatory of Music and I found an easy way to remember all our professors’ phone numbers by turning all the numbers into solfège singing pitches. It was much quicker to associate the numbers with melodies than the actual numbers. “Si la re mi” were the last four digits of my composition professor Dr. Gao’s phone number. I still use this method today to memorize numbers, and sometimes passwords.

Hope you all are starting a fantastic week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

Instagram @wufeimusic

YouTube @wufeimusic

TikTok @wufeimusic

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #431 — Honey brothers 蜜兄弟.

I created this piece yesterday on multitrack guzheng, inspired by the honey fungi I saw in the forest (see photo below). I admire its delicious color.

Honey fungus spreads from living trees, dead and live roots and stumps by means of reddish-brown to black rhizomorphs (root-like structures) at the rate of approximately 3.3 feet (1 meter) a year. What a powerful little creature it is!

Wishing you all a restful and adventurous weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #427 — Jana 詹娜.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me. I would like to dedicate this composition to a dear friend of mine — Jana.

Jana and I have known each other for twenty one years. She was my first friend in the U.S. when I arrived in Texas in 2000. She was an alto soprano in college at the time when I was doing my composition degree. We were both in our junior year. Jana was very fun to be around with. She knew everyone in town. I went to many fun places with her in Texas. When I was going through hard time, Jana was always the first person I called. She was always there for me, and made sure I was comfortable and safe wherever I was.

In 2002, I moved to California from Texas to start graduate school. Jana and I lost contact. Recently we have been reconnected. I am so happy!

Hope you and your loved ones are staying in touch and doing well!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #426 — The secret clone 神秘克隆.

This a cappella piece was composed and recorded yesterday, all tracks sung by me. After a morning hike in the woods, I get completely recharged. The forest is gradually becoming more colorful by the day. Recently I have slipped a few times on certain paths where I had never slipped before. Yesterday, I finally realized that the acorns that had fallen on the ground made me slip because they were small, rounded and hard. Everyday I learn something new in the woods. Learning is the best!

I would like to announce a new album release that I’m part of.

《Shan Qi —Energy Of The Mountains 》 on Ozella Music (Germany). It was filmed and recorded on the Italian Alps in 2007. The musicians and the film crew spent a whole week in a beautiful village called Padola, near the Italian part of the Alps to make this production. It was breathtaking to play and sing after I hiked up to the top of the Alps. The music film was released on Ozella in 2009. The audio recording has just been released just a week ago.

Guo Yue (bamboo flute, UK/CN)

Giovanni Amighetti (piano, Italy)

Wu Fei (guzheng/voice, US/CN)

Guido Ponzini (Chapman Stick/ viola da gamba, Italy)

Helge A. Norbakken (Percussion, Norway)

Recorded/mixed/mastered by Bruno Cimenti Primigenia (Italy)

Video by Gioacomo Talamini (Italy)

Wishing you all an adventurous weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Instagram @wufeimusic

Twitter @wufei

Facebook @realwufeimusic

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #423 — The tale of purple clay 阅紫砂.

This solo guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday, performed by me. I would like share this newsletter with all my subscriber for free because I want to share this exciting book release that I am part of.

A few years ago, Abigail Washburn and I were invited by Princeton University to write an essay about our music as part of a book called Ways of Hearing — Reflections on Music in 26 Pieces. The contributors include the late Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, artist Laurie Anderson and many outstanding scholars, scientists, thinkers and poets. I am honored to announce that this book is being released today by Princeton Press.

The editor Scott Burnham will moderate an online event that I will be one of the panelists who have contributed writings in this book. It will be presented by the Washington D.C. bookstore Politics and Prose.

You can register for the event here, or buy the book from Princeton University Press, or order it (hard copy and kindle) on Amazon by entering the book title.

Thank you all very much for your support!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #422 — Dancing in one shoe 一枝独秀.

This piece was created and recorded on 4-track guzheng, performed by me. It is an etude using a rhythmic pattern called syncopation. I start the piece with playing tutti, and then develop it into counterpointing the melodies and rhythms. It was a fun experiment!

Hope your week is starting with a lot of fun energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #421 — Autumn hoofing 秋叮咚.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on multi-track guzheng, performed by me. The deer in the forest have become much more relaxed around humans. The mother and her doe have been coming out in the morning to play on my neighbor’s lawn. What a way to start my day! Hope you all are enjoying the beautiful autumn.

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Moon Festival everyone 中秋节快乐!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #418 — The lunar maria 月海.

Today is the Moon Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节. I would like to share this post with all my subscribers. Hope you are with your loved ones on this day. If you can’t be together, please tell each other that you can watch the full moon tonight, and you will be connected by the moon.

The Moon Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated by China and many East and Southeast Asian people. It is the second-most important holiday after Chinese New Year with a history dating back over 3,000 years.

Lanterns of all size and shapes, are carried and displayed – symbolic beacons that light people's path to prosperity and good fortune. Mooncakes (photo below), a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean, yolk, meat or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during this festival. The Mid-autumn festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the moon goddess.

The festival celebrates three fundamental concepts that are closely connected:

Gathering, such as family and friends coming together, or harvesting crops for the festival. It is said the moon is the brightest and roundest on this day which means family reunion. Consequently, this is the main reason why the festival is thought to be important.

Thanksgiving, to give thanks for the harvest, or for harmonious unions

Praying (asking for conceptual or material satisfaction), such as for babies, a spouse, beauty, longevity, or for a good future

Traditions and myths surrounding the festival are formed around these concepts, although traditions have changed over time due to changes in technology, science, economy, culture, and religion. It's about well being together.

You can read more about the Moon Festival here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #417 — High desert, red willows 高漠有红柳.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng. A dear friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen for many years came to visit me yesterday. We had a wonderful catch up. He told me that he was going to Taos, New Mexico. I was fascinated by this place from what he described it. After my friend left. I went into the studio and recorded this piece.

Hope you are beginning a good week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Hot chili peppers are being dried in my mother’s garden.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #416 — Magnet’s wedding 铁磁铁磁的.

This composition was created and recorded on three-track guzheng yesterday, performed by me. The two elements in this piece sound like twin sisters getting married at the same time, pulling each others away and getting back to each other again. They are different, and yet, they are from the same origin.

Wish you all a fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #412 — Hiding in seagrass 海的女儿.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on three-track guzheng, performed by me. I had a busy three days last week giving classes and playing a concert in Butler University in Indianapolis. After returning home on Saturday, my fingers were craving proper exercise. This piece was to resume myself back in my daily practice. Hope it brings you energy to your Monday!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

New York ironweed is blossoming in Nashville now.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #411 — Drop it and shine 退一步, 海阔天空.

This multi-track guzheng composition was created and recorded on September 7th, 2021, performed by me. It is another piece where I did not wear finger picks so I could pluck and mute instantly. It is a technique I learned from playing Balinese gamelan music, where most of the percussion instruments are hit with a hammer (or a mallet) with right hand, then is muted immediately by the left hand. I miss playing the gamelan!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This photo was taken in 2008. I was riding on the R train from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

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Happy Rosh Hashanah everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #408 — The last river 谷蓝松.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on guzheng, performed by me. The weather in Nashville has been beautiful. It has entered my favorite season — autumn. In the morning, I had a hike in the forest. The forest was full of birds’ calls. Suddenly, I heard birds singing clearly in pitches of a B-F#-E back and forth in a spontaneous timing. When I came home, I turned this experience into this piece. Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A bee busy on a thistle yesterday in Nashville. Hope it is getting a lot of nectar.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #407 — Curving train 遥拜.

This improvisation was recorded yesterday on my vocal and guzheng. We live in a very strange time — the strangest time I’ve ever remembered in my life time that is not long, not short. Sometimes I feel I’ve barely lived. Sometimes I feel I’ve lived for thousands of years. Everything is relative. When I play, it feels like I live a whole new life again.

September 6th, Monday is Labor Day in the U.S.. My newsletter will be back on Tuesday. Wishing you a peaceful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Two years ago in NYC. Thinking of all my friends there right now.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #403 — Switching twigs 连理枝.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on four-track guzheng, performed by me. It is another etude for finger exercise. I created this piece right after practicing Bach’s preludes from The Well-Tempered Clavier for piano. There might be some of the “left-over” flavor lingering around in this piece.

Hope you are starting a good week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This tree branch covered with fungi looks like a stylish fashion model. Photo taken by me in Nashville yesterday.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #402 — High horse school 麒麟斋.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack muted guzheng, performed by me.

I am excited to announce that my chamber orchestral composition Hello Gold Mountain will be performed on September 9, 2021 at the Schrott Center for the Arts in Butler University in Indianapolis, IN.

Concert detail is below or click here to Schrott Center’s official page.

Wishing you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

==============

JCA Signature Series: Hello, Gold Mountain: A requiem for lost possibilities of the Jewish community of Shanghai

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 @ 7:30PM

Hello Gold Mountain is a requiem for lost possibilities of the Jewish community of Shanghai.  

CAN’T MAKE IT IN-PERSON? WATCH THE LIVESTREAM HERE!

The work, an original composition by Wu Fei, will feature chatterbird along with Wu Fei, guzheng, and Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, oud (Silk Road Ensemble).

The piece is inspired by stories of Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai from Europe during World War II. From 1933 until the end of the war, Shanghai was often the only port at which Jewish refugees fleeing Europe could disembark without a visa. In the early 1940s, more than 20,000 Jews lived in Shanghai and contributed to its cultural and civic life.

But the Jews could not stay. As China’s bloody civil war came to a close in 1949, most fled. Many emigrated to the US, often arriving at the port of San Francisco, or Old Gold Mountain.

What musical possibilities were lost because the times did not allow neighbors from these different cultures to grow old together, sharing songs and stories? Similarly, what artistic creations will be lost if Europe and the United States close the door to refugees and migrants from lands in chaos?

Wu Fei

Born and raised in Beijing, Wu Fei is a composer, vocalist and performer of the guzheng (Chinese zither), as well as the piano. She began performing guzheng at the age of six, and spent her formative years studying composition at the China Conservatory of Music. She holds an M.A. in Composition from Mills College where she studied improvisation and composition.

Wu Fei has performed and recorded with musicians such as John Zorn, Fred Frith, Billy Martin (Medeski-Martin-Wood), Carla Kilhstedt (Tin Hat Trio), and Grammy winning musicians Abigail Washburn and Béla Fleck. Her commissions range from a composition for the Percussions Claviers de Lyon (France) that premiered in the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, to live performances in Paris and Tokyo for Hermès. She has composed for Balinese gamelan, symphony orchestra, choir, string quartet, chamber ensemble, film, and modern dance. Fei has performed at The Great Hall of The People in Beijing, EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, The Stone and MoMA in New York City, Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, Vossa Jazz in Norway, Europalia in Belgium, and Madame Guitar Festival in Italy. Fei has also been a guest lecturer and performer at institutions including China Conservatory of Music, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and The Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz

Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz — acoustic bass, electric bass, oud, gimbri — was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1975 to Polish and Egyptian parents.  He was given his first instruments, the pots and pans from the kitchen and a three-string guitar at the age of two.  

Shanir is featured on over 50 releases on John Zorn’s Tzadik record label since 1999 – producing and arranging for many of the bands he works with, including Rashanim “The Gathering,” Edom “Hope And Destruction,” Pitom “Blasphemy And Other Serious Crimes,” and the “Kef” self-titled debut. In 2011, Shanir  produced and arranged the cd “Caym,” featuring Cyro Baptista’s Banquet Of The Spirits – comprised of compositions by John Zorn as part of the Masada “Book Of Angels” series on Tzadik. Other cds by Cyro Baptista include the self-titled debut of “Banquet Of The Spirits” and “Infinito” – with compositions and arrangements by Shanir. He has performed in concert halls and festival stages all over the world with John Zorn, ABRAXAS, Banquet of the Spirits, Yemen Blues, Zion80, Edom, Pitom, Rashanim, Satlah, Kef, Pharaoh’s Daughter, and recently joining Yo-Yo Ma playing oud, bass, gimbri, and arranging music for the Silk Road Project.

In 2017, Shanir founded a new record label called Chant Records.

chatterbird

chatterbird is a chamber music ensemble that explores alternative instrumentation, stylistic diversity, and interdisciplinary collaboration in order to create thoughtful, intimate, and inventive musical experiences. Formed in 2014, chatterbird performs classical music that skirts traditional boundaries, sliding between classical, jazz, hip-hop, rock, avant-garde, and country, creating a thoughtful and inventive way to discover and experience modern classical music. chatterbird brings cutting-edge chamber music repertoire into spaces where you wouldn’t usually find it, like bars, galleries, breweries, basements, and everywhere in between.

Incredible artwork of nature! Photo by Jeremy Goldkorn on August 26, 2021.

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Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #398 — Maybe shimmering 能灻否.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I had a moment reconnecting to the music root I was raised on. I hear the folklores from the old dynasties; I see the caves that are full of paintings on the walls; I walk by the foothills of the ancient Great Wall ruins, and am carried by a piece of cloud into the space.

Wishing you all a peaceful week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I saw red raspberry slime mold fungus for the time yesterday in the forest near Nashville. They are incredibly bright.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #397 — Deep garden 蝶恋花.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me.

Hiking on the hills of west Nashville, I am often stunned by how many butterflies there are. They fly quite high and fast that I sometimes mistake them for bats. This handsome black swallowtail was loving the beautiful butterfly milkweed blossoms as I walked by it (photo below).

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #393 — Feathers in the field 翼.

This solo guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday. A dear friend came to visit us yesterday. He told us about the “field parties” he had growing up in Tennessee. After he left, I went into the studio and recorded this piece thinking about the field parties and my friend’s next journey.

Hope you are starting a peaceful week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

An okra flower was blossoming yesterday morning in my mother’s garden. She asked us to take a photo quickly because the flower would close in a few hours. I had never seen an okra flower before, and never knew it would last so short. My mom was happy and proud of her garden :) It has attracted many bees and butterflies.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #392 — Debussy’s apple 德彪西的苹果.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday. Two days ago, I had my alarm clock on my iPhone set for my children to stop doing computer work. The sound I had chosen was “slow rise” because it was the most mellow one in all the sound samples. As I was holding my phone and walking to the kids’ rooms, I started to sing French composer Debussy’s La fille aux cheveux de lin (The girl with the Flaxen Hair, a piano prelude) to counterpoint the “slow rise” alarm melody. It was quite interesting experiment. So I decided to make a recording of it.

Wishing you all a restful and creative weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Cute goats from Pip & Pickle’s Farm :)

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #388 — Honey carnival 闺蜜.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multipart guzheng, performed me. I was intrigued by a TikTok video about the powerful female worker bees yesterday. There has been a lot of butterflies in the forest, as well as hummingbirds and wasps. They all like sugar water. This piece is a carnival of these fascinating creatures!

Hope you are starting a sweet week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A yellowtail butterfly resting in the smoke house. Photo by Jeremy Goldkorn.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #387 — Hammer and hooks 锤子和钩子.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on percussion and muted guzheng. Beside playing the muted guzheng in a normal way, I played the wooden body of the guzhengs again for most of the percussive tracks. When was looking around to find new sound element in the room, I found these hooks (see photo below) laying on the desk. After trying a few times to get a good sound and a stable place to hit them with my guzheng tuning hammer (in the photo) without them slipping away, I found a great sound for this piece. It is always fun to create music with surprises to myself!

Wishing you all a fun weekend with good surprises!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #383 — A bumble bee in Greenland 格陵兰的小黄蜂.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng, performed by me.

Two years ago today, on August 2, 2019, my parents arrived in the U.S. from their hometown Beijing. It was their first time coming to the U.S., and it was my mom’s first time leaving China. I took the photo of my mom (below) when our plane was on top of Nashville.

It has been a busy and wonderful two years for my whole family adjusting our new life as a whole in Nashville, Tennessee. I was hoping to take my parents to see different parts of the U.S., but the plan has been interrupted by the pandemic. We feel grateful that we are together during this difficult time. This piece is dedicated to all the families that have made sacrifices for each other in order to move forward together.

Hope you and your loved ones are staying well and connected!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #382 — The chocolate house 巧克力舞会.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on vocals and guzheng performed by me. I was amazed by all the athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. It brought me back to the trip of the 2010 South Africa World Cup I had with my then fiancé . As a life-long sports fan, it was an incredible trip for me. It felt like the whole world was there.

Wishing you all a fun weekend!

Wu Fei

Wufeimusic.com

Photo by Jeremy Goldkorn in Cape Town, South Africa 2010.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #378 — Jupiter’s hat 宙斯的帽子.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I have been hiking in early morning since summer started. The forest is full of spider webs. The morning mist and sunlight through the leaves created a dreamy mirror.

Hope you are having a dreamy start of the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Photo by Jeremy Goldkorn

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #377 — Bouncing in the Arctic 北极.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on four-track, double guzheng. I had a dream two nights ago that I was in the Arctic with an old friend from middle school. I haven’t seen her for more than twenty years. How interesting it is that we sometimes reconnect with people in our dreams who are from our past . I was still close to her in the dream like when we were in 8th grade.

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo by Jeremy Goldkorn in New York City in 2019.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #373 — Triads 三连.

This choral composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack vocals and guzheng, performed by me.

The entire work is based on a sequence of major triads. I sing the middle pitches and play the two outer pitches. Since the 20th century, major triads in classical music have been used less and less. In my opinion, it is sad and weird. If it is a “fashion” to not use major triads, then I think it is ridiculous. They can sound very interesting if you make them interesting. Both my 70-year old mother and my 9-year old daughter like this piece a lot. Hope you enjoy it too!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Photo by me on Piney river in Tennessee yesterday, July 18, 2021. We canoed on the river for three hours. My arms are sore from flighting the currents. I am looking forward to have stronger biceps tomorrow :)

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #372 — Nothing in between 颤风.

This improvisation was recorded yesterday on solo guzheng. I felt pumped up and needed to unleash my energy at this moment. Because I was playing enormously hard, my right hand accidentally hit the mic the last second of the recording. I thought it’s a perfect way to end it.

Hope you all are powering through the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo taken by Jeremy Goldkorn at Jimingyi village 鸡鸣驿, Hebei province, China in 2011. This village was established in 1219 during the Yuan Dynasty. This painting was on a wall of an old opera house stage in the village. The opera stage now is a tourist sight seeing spot. It would be amazing to perform on this stage :)

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #368 — The sneeze 一粒沙.

This piece was created yesterday on two track guzheng featuring a sneeze. I also wrote a poem for this piece. Calligraphy by me below. It is read from top to bottom, right to left, which is the traditional way of writing Chinese poems.

一粒沙 , 两震弦。三番索, 万籁聚。

One grain of sand, two tremors of the strings. Three quests, all sounds join.

Wishing you all a fantastic start of the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #367 — Climbing 攀.

I want to send a big thank you note to you all for encouraging me with this daily creation project, especially the patrons who have been supporting me from the when I launched the project on May 3, 2020, as well as the patrons who discovered me only a few weeks ago.

Among you, there are both old friends and people I have never met. Your generosity has kept me going stronger. As the pandemic slows down, I have a new dream that I want to bring my music to every part of the world where you all live. I read every email and feedback you have sent me. I am sorry I am not always good at replying :(

It is a very special feeling that I am connected to you everyday in the dearest way. I feel the richest and the luckiest person on earth. Thank YOU!

————

This piece was created yesterday on vocal and guzheng, performed by me. The inspiration came from the plants that are growing in my mother’s garden. The photo below makes me want to pluck the strings and the plants. They look like a magical harp hugged by dancers.

Wishing you all a magical weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #363 — Lake Erie 伊利湖.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on two track vocal and guzheng, performed by me.

After a week long road trip to New York State with my family, we are happy to be home in Nashville again. During this trip, I got to see many parts of the U.S. that I had not previously visited. After a year of a half not being able to go anywhere, we all needed this trip. Even if it was tiring at times on the road, especially to my two children (nine and six years old), we experienced so much together. We met people and made new friends from different parts of the country. Our life is richer than a week ago.

For the first time, we saw Lake Erie in Pennsylvania. It was like an ocean. It reminded us of Mission Bay of Auckland, New Zealand.

Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful weekend! If you are in the U.S., happy July 4th!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #362 — Buddha sprinting 疾走佛陀.

This solo improvisation was recorded five days ago on guzheng. I am on my way back to Nashville, TN from New York State. We all miss home!

Wishing you all a restful and fun July 4th weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #358 — Channeling 通灵竹.

This solo improvisation was recorded yesterday on guzheng and vocal performed by me. Three years ago, my husband planted these bamboos near our home (see photo below). This summer, for the first time we see new bamboo shoots coming out. They are growing incredibly fast. Within a few days, it grew from one foot to about ten feet. As a person who grew up in a big city, I am amazed by nature everyday.

When you receive this newsletter, I will be on the road heading to Chautauqua, NY with my family. In the evening of June 30, I will give my first out-of-state concert at Chautauqua Institution since the pandemic started in March 2020. Concert detail is here. While I am on the road, I’ll continue to my daily composition posts. It will be an exciting trip and I can’t wait to turn this new experience into my creativity!

Hope you are starting this week with a lot of fresh energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #357 — Busy bugs 栩栩然蝶.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on 3 track, half muted guzheng, performed by me. There are so many living creatures around my home right now, especially bugs. This butterfly was enjoying the sun when I happened to be walking by. It reminded me of Zhuangzi, my favorite Chinese philosopher again.

This is the most famous of all Zhuangzi’s stories—Zhuang Zhou Dreams of Being a Butterfly:

yeah

Once, Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, flitting and fluttering. about, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know that he was Zhuang Zhou. Suddenly, he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuang Zhou. But he didn't know if he was Zhuang Zhou who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuang Zhou.

Wishing you all a dreamy weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #353 — The orchid of Sicily 西西里的兰花花

I have been wanting to share this recording with you for a long time. It was from a festival I played in Penice, Italy in 2006 with a group of friends. This recording was actually from our sound check and has never been released. The piece is a mixture of a folk song called Lan Hua Hua 兰花花 from the northwest China and a folk song from Sicily, Italy.

The musicians: Piano by Giovanni Serani (Italy), bamboo flute by Guo Yue (UK/China), guitar by Beppe Gambetta (Italy), bass by Guido Ponzini (Italy), singer Patrizia Laquidara (Italy), percussion by Fulvio Maras (Italy).

During that trip, I also recorded my first solo album A Distant Youth in Parma.

Hope this track starts your week with joy.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo by Carlo Ronchi.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #352 — Sleepy pink 合欢.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday. There is a pink mimosa tree in my backyard. Yesterday morning, I noticed that there was a few pink dots on the crown of the tree. By early afternoon, the entire tree was covered by blossoms, like in the photo below. I was amazed by this phenomenon.

According to Wikipedia, pink mimosa’s leaves slowly close during the night and during periods of rain, the leaflets bowing downward; thus its modern Persian name shabkhosb (شب‌خسب) means "night sleeper". This also tendency also explains the Chinese common name hehuan, which means "shut happy" and symbolizes a happy couple in bed.[3] In Japan its common names are nemunoki, nemurinoki and nenenoki which all mean "sleeping tree". Nemu tree is a partial translation of nemunoki.

Wishing you all a relaxing and eventful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #348 — Summer sextuplet 夏日六炎.

This piece was created yesterday on solo guzheng. The composition is based on a 6-tone plucking pattern. In music term, 6-tone in one beat is called a sextuplet 六连音.

Hope this track will bring you a moment of cool breathe in the hot summer if you are in the northern hemisphere.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

My family’s favorite fruit 荔枝 lychee is in the market now!

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #347 — Steamboat étude 蒸汽船.

This improvisation was recorded yesterday on partially muted guzheng. PLaying guzheng études is a must for my daily practice before I start working on larger compositions. It often unlocks my brain and muscles.

I am also excited to share with you that I will play a live solo concert at the prestigious and historical Chautauqua Institution in New York State on June 30. Concert details are here.

Wishing you a relaxing weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Wild Indian pink blossoming in middle Tennessee right now.

——————————-

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #343 — The brilliant hibiscus 涉江采芙蓉.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday. I recorded the guzheng track first, then I improvised the singing over the guzheng track. The lyrics are from a poem from the East Han Dynasty (207 BC - 220 CE): 涉江采芙蓉 (“Crossing the river to pick hibiscus”).

I found a translation of the poem here from 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems).

涉江采芙蓉

I cross the river to pick hibiscus,

-蘭澤多芳草

the brilliant orchid and the many fragrant herbs.

-采之欲遺誰

I pick it and desire to give it to someone,

-所思在遠道

but the one whom I think of is journeying far away.

-還顧望舊鄉

I still gaze at the old countryside,

-長路漫浩浩

the long road and its vast expanse.

-同心而離居

We are of one mind yet live apart,

-憂傷以終老

and in the end I grow old, wounded by grief.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

I was in a safari in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in 2010.

——————————-

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #342 — You can go from A to C like this 如此转调.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday, performed by me on piano. Yesterday morning, I read a Tweet from a music professor “Dear music theory masterminds: What’s the classiest way to get from A major to C major?” Having no time to send in my suggestion because I had to get my kids ready for summer camp, the two chords were ringing in my head the whole time I was preparing their lunch boxes. Later, I thought about this tweet again. Instead of suggesting the usual harmony progression from the music theory approach, I decided to compose something as my answer to this professor’s question. The entire piece is based on A major chords and C major chords. Hope you enjoy it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A yellow-spotted millipede is looking shiny and strong in the forest of west Nashville. Wish I had as many fingers as this little creature so I could play every instrument I want at the same time.

——————————-

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Happy Tuesday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #339 — Silent white 剪秋罗.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday —the Memorial Day in the U.S.. Today, June 1st is known as the International Children’s Day in China. I am sure there are many different holidays around the world that are on the same day. Hope this white campion (photo below) from my home brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A wild white campion standing a lone after the rain.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #338 — Queen bee piping 蜂王祭.

This guzheng etude was created and recorded yesterday.

Queen bee piping is the noise that a queen bee makes during swarming, but also when she is being asphyxiated by worker bees if she’s is found by strange swarm, or has reached the age that she no longer produces eggs.

I learned about this natural phenomenon from a bee keeper’s video and it stunned me. After sharing this experience with my children, my children reminded me that the animal world is full of violence and cannibalism, such as the female pray mantis eating the male after mating, in order to feed her babies.

May 31 Monday is Memorial Day in the U.S.. I will take that day off as well. The next newsletter will resume on June 1st, which will be the International Children’s Day.

Wishing you all a fun and restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Beads on grass before sunset yesterday in Nashville.

——————————-

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #334 — Read me 吾家书.

I created and recorded this piece on guzheng + vocal piece yesterday, performed by me.

Sunsets are often spectacular in the summer in Nashville. I was reading when a glimpse of warm light shone through the window that I sat in front. The house was becoming brighter and yellower by the minute. After captured this moment (see photo), I came up with this piece — Read me. 吾家有书，舞之乐之, 抚琴之.

Hope it brings a moment of lightness to you.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is episode #333 — Flash of yellow 黄金闪.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on piano and a hand drum, performed by me. The inspiration came from the patterns of a big butterfly that I encountered on my morning hike. It’s a female eastern tiger swallowtail (see photo below). What an incredibly beautiful creature it is!

Wishing you all an adventurous weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #329 episode — Lava bubble 火球.

This composition was created and recorded on multitrack guzheng. I used a metal guitar slide to create a constant microtonal rhythmic pattern on different pitches except the melodic track. It was a fun experiment. As I was trying this new sound, I was instantly reminded of my favorite video game from childhood —Super Mario Bros.

Hope this piece begins your week with fun energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

P.S. I’m excited to share that Wu Fei’s Music Daily has been featured on the Substack homepage for this whole week. Thank you all for your support from the very beginning. It has been a year since I posted the first episode on May 3rd, 2020. I can’t wait to make the next 300+ episodes! 谢谢 🙏

Beautiful sunset in west Nashville from two days ago near my home.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #328 episode — Imagine being a bee 念周叙.

I recorded this piece on guzheng yesterday. It is a dedicated to a childhood friend of mine from China. Her name was Zhou Xu 周叙. I called her Xuxu 叙叙. We grew up together for six years from the High School of China Conservatory of Music to the college of the conservatory. We were both composition students. Everyday Xuxu and I spent hours in the practice room working on music during those years. We loved Bartok, Stravinsky and Sofia Gubaidulina. Xuxu passed away seven years ago because of cancer. She would have composed so much more beautiful music. When we were teenagers, I used to sing her songs back to her. That’s how much I loved her music. In 2014, the year she passed away in Beijing, she received her Doctor of Musical Arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Zhou Xu and I in our old dorm room in China Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1996. We were freshman and were excited to start our college year together after three years in high school. She was the most joyful and kind-hearted friend. She was the most hardworking student in our class with enormous talent.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #323 episode — Five lines 小五条儿.

This all-vocal piece was created and recorded yesterday. I witnessed this five-lined skink (photo below) catching a moth right before I went into the studio for my daily creation. This piece is my memory of this interesting thirty seconds.

Wish you all an eventful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #319 episode — Dumpling ensemble 饺子宴.

This piece was created and recorded two days ago on multitrack guzheng. The melodic element is from Peking opera which was the traditional music culture that I grew up in. Like the dumplings, wherever I go in the world, they bring happiness and joy to me and my family. Hope this piece starts your week with fun ideas!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo taken in Bao Yuan Dumpling House 宝源饺子屋 in Beijing in 2014. It was our favorite dumping place when we lived in Beijing. I often took my 2-yr old then there for lunch. It was a few minutes walk from our apartment. How lucky we were!

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #318 episode — The Pirate and the Okra Boat 秋葵海盗.

This composition of mine was written for solo double bass, commissioned by Intersection Ensemble. Double bassist Tiffany Freeman premiered this piece online on April 29, 2021.

The video was filmed by Continuous Motion Productions at Zeitgeist Gallery .

Tiffany Freeman performing The Pirate and the Okra Boat:

My thoughts about writing this piece:

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #316 episode — Melting into the soil.

This track is a solo guzheng improvisation recorded yesterday.

Meanwhile, I would like to share a new work premiere with you all that I’ve been excited about!

My new composition “The Pirate and the Okra Boat 秋葵海盗” , written for solo double bass, commissioned by Intersection Ensemble, will be premiered by double bassist Tiffany Freeman. It premieres on Thursday, April 29, at 11 a.m. CT Intersection’s Facebook page!

The premiere video was filmed by Continuous Motion Productions at Zeitgeist Gallery. Catch the debut performance this Thursday, and follow the link below to set a reminder for the premiere!

WATCH THE PREMIERE

LISTEN is a multi-year initiative celebrating the voices of female-identifying, non-binary or gender non-conforming composers. 25 composers will be commissioned and paired with Intersection musicians to create new, original, solo works designed for young audiences.

LISTEN is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and to find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LISTEN

WU FEI ON THE TITLE "THE PIRATE AND THE OKRA BOAT"

The pirate is Zheng Yisao, I learned about her story on NPR a few years ago about a book that was written about this extraordinary woman in China, who might be the most badass pirate in world history. She was a Chinese pirate leader who terrorized the China Seas for decades in the Qing Dynasty in the early 19th century. She commanded over 1,800 junks (traditional Chinese sailing ships) manned by 60,000 to 80,000 pirates – men, women, and occasionally children. Her ships entered into conflict with several major powers, such as the East India Company, the Portuguese Empire, and the Qing government. After I finished writing the piece, I was thinking about a title, Zheng Yisao kept jumping in my head. I was making dinner and cutting okras. The way the okras (30-40 of them) were laid out on my kitchen counter looked like boats. I started imagining them as Zheng Yisao's boats. They are healthy boats and eatable so the pirates and their family could stay fed and healthy. Those okra boats are magical that can grow back out once you eat them. The double bass also looks like a boat that can be a giant musical okra. Tiffany is a woman bassist, and Zheng Yisao was a woman pirate, both are rare and badass at the same time. That's how I named the piece. -Wu Fei

Double bassist Tiffany Freeman performing my composition at Zeitgeist Gallery filmed by Continuous Motion Production.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #314 episode — Acoustic larvae.

This composition was created ands recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng and muted guzheng. I encountered an eastern newt yesterday. It was carrying a yellow spider while crossing a puddle (photo below).

Wikipedia says “Although eastern newts are widespread throughout North America, they, like many other species of amphibians, are increasingly threatened by several factors including habitat fragmentation, climate change, invasive species, over-exploitation, and emergent infectious diseases.”

Hope you are starting your week with a lot of power!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #313 episode — Conquerer of venom.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday inspired by an Eastern Kingsnake (photo below) I encountered recently during a hike in Nashville. It was having a relaxing afternoon sun bathing when I walked by it.

According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency’s website, there are three subspecies occur in the state: Eastern Kingsnake is found in extreme southeastern Tennessee, Eastern Black Kingsnake occurs over most of Tennessee except the northeastern corner, and Speckled Kingsnake is found in the western and southwestern third of Tennessee where it interbreeds with Eastern Black Kingsnake.

Kingsnakes are named for their ability to overcome and consume other snakes, especially venomous ones. Kingsnakes play an important ecological role in controlling these venomous snakes, which can pose a threat to humans.

You can read more about the Eastern Kingsnake here.

Wish you a fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #309 episode — Gen Alpha.

I composed this a cappella piece yesterday, recorded on multitrack vocals sung by me. Hope this piece starts your week with a fun beat!

To friends in Nashivlle,

I am giving a solo performance at the Nashville Earth Day Festival on April 24, Saturday. It will take place in Centennial Park. It will be a socially distanced outdoor live event. Please follow the city’s safety guidelines. Event details are here.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Pink azaleas are blossoming in the forest in Nashville at this very moment. They smell wonderful! Bees and butterflies love them.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #308 episode — NFT’s wedding.

I created this piece yesterday on multitrack prepared mini guzheng, Chinese dulcimer (yangqin 扬琴) and vocals performed by me. I hope this track brings you a moment of fun. Wishing you all a good weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Me in the middle of recording this track yesterday.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #304 episode — Mother tongue.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng. The melody hit my heart when I sat down in front of my guzheng. I grew up listening to a great deal of melodies from around the world. This composition is another result of being raised in melodies.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I encountered this baby tortoise on a hike two days ago on the hills of west Nashville.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the #303 episode — Spring vertigo.

This composition was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack piano and one guzheng, performed by me. It is inspired by the vivid memory of a trip that I made exactly ten years ago, on April 9th, 2011.

My husband and I drove from Beijing to Xuankongsi 悬空寺, The Hanging Temple in Shanxi province, China. This temple is built into a cliff (75 m or 246 ft above the ground) near Mount Heng. Built more than 1,500 years ago, this temple is notable not only for its location on a sheer precipice but also because it is one of the few existing temples with the combination of three Chinese traditional religions: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

Being on top of the temple was breath taking. I tried not to look down from where I was in the photo below. The wooden platform was so small and the small fence below my legs was all the protection there was. This trip blew my mind about what humans are capable to do. Yes, we are capable to do more that we think we can.

On another note, I’d like to share an exciting news that my duo collaborative album Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn (released on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) has been nominated in the Fusion category of the Songlines Music Awards 2021 by UK's Songlines Magazine. I feel honored to be among all the amazing artists around the world for this prestigious award.

Wish you all a restful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 299th episode — A pink invitation.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on 2-track guzheng. It was inspired by the full blossom of our crabapple tree. This last weekend was beautiful in Nashville. The sounds of the birds, bees, creeks, wind were non-stop from the moment I woke up.

The photo below was taken by my father in the morning before he went for his daily hike on the hills. Hope this track and the blossom begin your week with a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 298th episode — Skeleton going to the dance.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on two-track piano and two-track voice performed by me. I gave myself an assignment —stay on the black keys. That’s how I started the first phrase on E flat. The rest of the story became the recording.

Hope it brings you some energy to your Friday and into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

wufeimusic @TikTok, YouTube, Instagram

Podophyllum, common names are mayapples, wild mandrake, and ground lemon. It is widespread across most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. They remind me of the illustrations in Dr. Seuss’ books.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 294th episode — Sparkling terraces.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on two guzhengs single track. I continue to explore the multi-tonality and multi-timbre within one composition in one take of performance. It is an exiting learning process for my brain and my fingers to play two guzhengs at the same time.

After recording this piece, I took a hike on the sunny hills. We had a big storm last night in Nashville. Flood and tornado alarms from the city were going off several times throughout the night. The stream on the hill looks very different now. For the first time, I see these rocks in such bright colors after the soil being washed away by the heavy rain. Nature is powerful and magical!

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

wufeimusic @YouTube, TikTok, Instagram for videos

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 293rd episode — Doubling down.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on double guzhengs and my vocal. It is a new experiment that I am going to do more in my solo composition and improvisation. The photo below shows how I had the guzhengs set up. I wish I had more arms like an octopus so I can add more guzhengs around me :)

Hope you all have a good weeekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 289th episode — A busy sky.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on prepared multitrack guzheng. I put several metal key chain rings on the guzheng strings (one ring on one string). I also used a small thin silk bag and weaved it through the lowest five strings on the guzheng. Therefore, the lowest register is muted when the mid-range is amplified with pitch/tone color changed. The highest register is un-prepared. I have been a big fan of counterpoint compositional approach. This track is a mini fugue.

In music, a fugue is a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and which recurs frequently in the course of the composition.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

My mom and dad have started planting vegetables. We love the spring!

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 288th episode — Song of winter jackdaw.

This track was recorded yesterday. It is a theme and variations of a classical guzheng piece called 寒鸦戏水 - the literal translation is The Winter Jackdaw Playing in Water. This traditional instrumental piece is from Chaozhou 潮州 area in east Guanggong province in China.

It has been a hectic week in the U.S. for the Asian American community. I would like to use this newsletter to do something helpful.

Asian American Advancing Justice Atlanta has set up a donation site here to help support Georgia's Asian American communities. This donation page was created to help the victims and their families impacted by the violent acts that took place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. All donations will go directly to support the victims and their families.

In 2018, I had the honor to attend the annual national convention of AAAJC held in Atlanta. It was inspiring to meet so many community leaders around the country who do amazing humanitarian work. I got to see Stacy Abrams’ speak!

Thank you all for your kind emails, texts and comments on my social media sites! It meant a lot to me. Hope you have a restful and peaceful weekend. Stay safe!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A painting 《柳岸鸬鹚图》- Willow Trees and Cormorants By The River by Qi Baishi 齐白石 (1864-1957). It was painted in 1923. Photo source from here.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 284th episode — Roxy.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday morning on multitrack vocals and guzheng. Roxy is the mama goat in the photo below. This photo was sent from my friend Elle Harvey who is a wonderful educator and community leader in Nashville. Roxy is one of her 31 goats on the farm of her school - A New Leaf in west Nashville. This piece was created while Roxy was feeding her kid. I can’t wait to visit the farm and pet the goats again with my family.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo by Helene “Elle” Harvey on March 14, 2021 from A New Leaf school farm in Nashville.

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Good morning everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 283rd episode — Toads and cups.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday, all performed by me. I wanted to celebrate a fun day with my children for being silly and joyful together after a not so-fun day on Wednesday. Sometimes you gotta enjoy the good days after having a tough day. Hope this track bring you some joy into the weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I was in Everard Read Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2010.

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Happy International Women’s Day!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 279th episode — Mother.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday. I would like to dedicate it to all women on this very special day. I celebrate March 8th by enjoying my family and my music. Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is my mother’s favorite photo of herself. She was in her early 20s when she was “sent down” to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan province to work as a farmer. She stayed there for six years before she was able to return home to Beijing in 1976.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 278th episode — Opera shark.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on two-track guzheng. I improvised the first track, and then improvised the second track responding to the first track. It was a fun and challenging experience since I didn’t use a metronome click while I recorded them.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

The first daffodils have blossomed behind my house.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 274th episode — First cookie.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng. The ending of this track feels like a beginning of something new. I may start tomorrow’s creation from this ending.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

An early hike at dawn from a couple of weeks ago in Nashville.

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Happy Lantern Festival!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 273rd episode — Fish lantern.

This solo guzheng track was recorded yesterday. Today is the Lantern Festival, which marks the last day of the lunar new year celebration. It is also known as 元宵节 - "Prime Night Festival". As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE - CE 25), it had become a festival with great significance.

Eaten during the Lantern Festival, tangyuan '湯圓' (Southern China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia) or yuanxiao '元宵' (Northern China) is a glutinous rice ball typically filled with sweet red bean paste, sesame paste, or peanut butter. The Chinese people believe that the round shape of the balls and the bowls in which they are served symbolize family togetherness, and that eating tangyuan or yuanxiao may bring the family harmony, happiness and luck in the new year.

This fish lantern I found here looks exactly like the one I had as a kid on Lantern Festival. Fish 鱼 yu, is a good character in Chinese language. This is based on a pun: “年年有魚, 年年有餘” (niannian you yu, niannian you yu), which means “every year there’s fish, every year there’s surplus.”

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 269th episode — On the bridge.

It was created and recorded yesterday on 2-track guzheng, inspired by the sweet rice/date cake my mother made for our lunar new year’s eve dinner. The character in the center is 福: happiness or good luck, see photo below. It has been a new year tradition in my family. We are still in the middle of lunar new year celebration, which lasts for fifteen days.

Wishing you all a good start of the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 268th episode — Sledding.

This track was created and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng after I had a long hike in the snow. I have lived in Nashville for nearly six years, and this winter was the coldest, with the most snow. One interesting thing I learned from hiking was that going uphill is more difficult in the snow than usual. But coming downhill was a lot of more fun because I could sled down from the top to the bottom. It was a good exercise!

Hope you all are having a safe and fun weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 264th episode — Minus five.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng. Nashville has been experiencing a very cold week. The temperature outside was minus five degrees in celsius when I created this piece. The roads are icy. If you must drive somewhere, please be very careful. Hope the weather will warm up soon.

Sending my best to you all for a good week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

The trees looked magical on the hills of west Nashville today.

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Happy New Year of the Ox everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 263rd episode — Cowbell.

Created and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng, this piece is to celebrate the first day of the year of the Ox. Many Chinese people around the world cannot be with their family this year during the lunar new year, including my cousins and friends. I hope everyone get to see their loved ones soon! Hope the year of Ox to be a better year!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A painting by Feng Zikai 丰子恺 (1898-1975). The 3 characters on the balloons are 开门红，they literally mean "open door red." It means to have a good success once something new starts like a new year, a new job, or a new business. The black characters 新年美景 mean New Year's beautiful scenery. And 子恺書 means Zikai’s writing. Feng Zikai 丰子恺 was an influential Chinese painter, pioneering comic artist, and essayist of twentieth century China.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 259th episode — Snow.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday morning. We have had quite a cold winter in Nashville. However, we have been enjoying the snow, which usually doesn’t happen so often as this year. Hope it brings you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo taken by me yesterday in west Nashville.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 258th episode — Thirty mile village.

This track was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack guzheng and vocals by me, inspired by a folk song called Thirty Mile Village (三十里铺) from Shaanxi (陕西) province in northwest China. Folk songs from this region have always been my favorite since I was a child. I sang the song with northern Shaanxi accent.

Lyrics:

提起（个）家来家有名，

家住在绥德三十里铺村，

四妹子爱见（那）三哥哥，

你是我的知心人。

Speaking of my home village that is so famous,

The Thirty Mile Village in Suide,

I am the fourth youngest girl (in my family), I fell in love with the third older boy (of another family in my village) ,

You are my confidant.

Wishing you a good weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

My daughter found an ice knife in the forest today.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 254th episode — The painted wall.

This solo guzheng improvisation was recorded yesterday, inspired by an old photo (below) from a trip I made exactly 10 years ago. The photo was taken on January 31, 2011 in a village called Jimingyi (鸡鸣驿), which I found when exploring country roads in Hebei province in northern China. Jimingyi was a big post station in Qing Dynasty China, and the Empress Cixi spent a night there when she was running away from the Allied powers sacking Beijing in 1900.

However, I was just hoping to find folk songs on that trip.

The painted wall in the photo is part of an old opera stage that has been in Jimingyi village center for centuries. The locals told me that they didn’t know any folk songs, but they liked to listen to Hebei opera (河北梆子）or Jin opera (晋剧) , which is an opera from Shanxi province 山西. The villagers say that their ancestors migrated from Shanxi about 800 years ago. The villagers’ language does have a heavy Shanxi accent unlike people in the rest of Hebei province.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

In the painting, there are two dragons playing with a gem stone (二龙戏珠 ). The origin of the pattern is from an ancient folklore. It symbolizes good luck and joy.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 253rd episode — The road may be long.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday on multitrack vocals and guzheng.

On a separate note, I'd like to share an upcoming virtual event with you. I am doing an event with Wall street Journal reporter and fiction writer Te-ping Chen on February 2nd, 9:30-10:30am (PST) hosted by UCI Illumination. This event will be moderated by historian, Prof. Jeffrey Wasserstrom of UCI. There will be a discussion, music and book reading during this live streaming event. It is open and free to public. If you are interested, please visit here for details.

Wishing you all a restful and safe weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Me practicing Hot 26 in Te Arai, New Zealand in 2016.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 249th episode — Fearless Madam Wu.

This solo improvisation track was recorded yesterday, inspired by Madam Chien-Shiung Wu (family name is Wu) 吴健雄 (1912 – 1997). Madam Wu was a Chinese-American experimental physicist who made significant contributions in the field of nuclear physics. She worked on the Manhattan Project, where she helped develop the process for separating uranium into uranium-235 and uranium-238 isotopes by gaseous diffusion.

Madam Wu is best known for conducting the Wu experiment, which proved that parity is not conserved. This discovery resulted in her colleagues Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang winning the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics, while Wu herself was awarded the inaugural Wolf Prize in Physics in 1978. Her expertise in experimental physics evoked comparisons to Marie Curie. Her nicknames include the "First Lady of Physics", the "Chinese Madame Curie" and the "Queen of Nuclear Research".

The China History Podcast, produced by my dear friend/historian Laszlo Montgomery just published a brilliant episode about Chien-Shiung Wu. You can listen to it here :

“This time Laszlo introduces an outstanding Chinese-American scientist who will be honored in the United States on February 11, 2021 with a new commemorative postage stamp. Dr. C.S. Wu came to America in 1936 and due to circumstances in her homeland, ended up staying in the US for good. She made many contributions in the field of physics and worked on the Manhattan Project. Dr. Wu was role model and tireless campaigner for encouraging young women to study the sciences and for equal rights. Her's was a great American success story.” - The China History Podcast

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Chien-Shiung Wu US 2021 Stamp

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Good morning everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 248th episode — At 185.

This piece was created and recorded yesterday morning on 3-track guzheng. Lately, I have started to get my daily creations done in the morning before I need to homeschool my children. There is an old Chinese saying “一天之计在于晨，一年之计在于春”, the plan for a day lies in the morning, the plan for a year lies in the spring. Getting my practice and composing done in the morning is a fresh new routine that I hope to stick with it for as long as I can. To give myself a challenge from practicing in the morning when I fingers were stiff, I decided to not think too much about any structure but to warm up my fingers. Therefore, I played all 16th notes throughout this track at 185 beats per minute. It was a good start of the day!

Wishing you all a good weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

After I recorded, this stink bug came out to say hi to me. I hope I didn’t ruin her/his morning nap.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 244th episode — From scratch.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on two-track vocal and piano. Although it is another song without words, I said everything I wanted to say to this world at this very moment. Hope you and I are connected as you listen to it.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

The sky was beautiful yesterday when I had a hike.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 243rd episode — Four hundred million years.

This solo improvisation on voice and guzheng was recorded yesterday. In the morning, I had a hike with my family in the forest. My daughter spotted this rock that was on the trail. We were all excited to see the fossil shell in the rock. Hope this piece will bring you a moment of excitement!

I would also like to share another exciting news: alongside with Abigail Washburn, our duo record Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) has been nominated for the Album of The Year on the 2021 International Folk Music Awards by by Folk Alliance International.

My idols from youth Kronos Quartet is nominated in the same category. The first time I heard them was on a bootleg record, playing Jimi Hendrix. Bootleg records were the only kind people had access to and could afford to buy in China back then. I was studying composition in the High School of China Conservatory of Music, and had just started writing my first string quartet. The album blew my mind, therefore changed my perspective on contemporary music. Seeing our record on the same list with my idols is a huge deal.

Thank you all again for your support! Can’t wait to create the next piece. Wish you all a good weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 239th episode — Three rings.

This piece was composed and recorded yesterday on 3-track guzheng. I was going to do a crazy rocking improvisation before I went into the studio because I had just had an intense conversation with a few family members over the internet. I was really pumped up at the moment when I sat down. But the guzheng calmed me down as soon as I laid my fingers on the strings. It was an instant mood change. The three tracks felt like magical rings that I wore while I created this piece. Hope it brings joy to your day.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Hiking on the Great Wall in Hebei Province, China in December 2011.

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Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 238th episode — Why sleep?

This piece was created and recorded on two-track guzheng yesterday. After a couple stressful days in the US, I wanted to release the tightness in my head from playing. Hope this track will bring you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 234th episode — Little airplane.

This multitrack guzheng piece was created and recorded yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon when I was in the studio. Seeing four blue jays playing up and down the tree branches outside my window made me happy. Was spring coming quietly? How much I have missed traveling! I wish I was one of the blue jays :)

Hope this piece bring you a moment of joy to start the first week of 2021!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Someday again :)

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy new year everyone!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 233rd episode — The original morning.

This improvisation on guzheng and my vocal was recorded on Dec. 31, 2020 in my home in Nashville, Tennessee. Many parts of the world were already entering 2021 when I sat down in front of my instruments. It was an exciting but quiet moment. I really wanted to hug all the friends and family members from whom I had been separated in 2020. Hope this piece can reach out to you as my hug!

Speaking of 2020, I am speechless. I was having a conversation with my husband and our children about the pros (no need to mention the cons) that the pandemic had brought to our family. We feel feel grateful to have spent all of this time with each other, getting to know each other lot better, especially my children. Being a homeschooler full time has been a life changer for me. Meanwhile, I have gained quite a few skills from working at home — learning how to do home audio/video recording and engineering, working out at home to stay fit and healthy while looking after my parents etc. All of these events seemed so foreign to me only from a year ago. Sometimes, having pressure can help to achieve goals unexpectedly efficiently.

I sincerely hope that 2021 is the beginning of the end of the pandemic, and we get to see each other in real life again. Therefore, I’m excited for the new year to start while remaining patient for our world to gradually heal altogether. It may still take a while before normality resumes. Therefore, I have made a slight schedule adjustment to my post beginning from this episode — I’ll be sending out a new piece from Monday through Friday and have the weekend off so I can recharge. My paid subscribers will receive all five posts. Free subscribers will receive Monday and Friday posts.

Lastly, thank you you for your kindness and encouragement to me from the very beginning of this music daily project!

Happy new year 新年快乐！

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Hi everyone,

Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 232nd episode — Silent night.

What a year we’ve had! I cannot believe I’ve made so much music at home since the first episode which I published it by “mistake.” I was supposed to click “save as draft” , but instead I clicked “publish”. And so this project was launched.

Since then, I have received a lot of support from you, as well as feedback after almost every episode. It truly has been an amazing journey knowing everyday I am connecting to you through my music. I apologize not being able to reply every email. Please know that I have read all of them. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement! Your words really have kept me going during this difficult time. I cherish this connection with you all. Your words have touched my heart, and I hope my music has helped you deal with this difficult year.

I am going to take a holiday break this week, and will be back next week.

Lastly, I’d like to share the news that The Guardian has named my duo record with Abigail Washburn as one of their 10 Best Folk Albums of 2020.

"This record is a constant celebration of how music can help us explore common ground, and freshly discover it together." — Jude Rogers

If you haven’t heard the album yet, it is available on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings or from the usual online platforms.

Thank you again! Sending you all a virtual toast!

Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and all your loved ones!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 230th episode — Twinkle twinkle Little Star Theme and Variations.

This a cappella version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" was recorded yesterday, arranged by me. This English lullaby is probably the most popular melody in the world. I have known it since I was a toddler. The compositional method of theme and variations is a fun way to play around a tune without getting bored of it :) I’m sure I’ll make another version of this melody in the future.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Healthy and delicious veggie dishes made by my parents. They look like twinkling colorful stars and gem stones.

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Good morning everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 227th episode — Debussy’s guzheng.

It was recorded yesterday. Debussy’s music has been a big influence to me since I was a teenager. The first time when I learned his music, I thought “wow, that sounds like guzheng music!” Since then, I’ve always wondered if Debussy knew the guzheng, he would’ve loved the instrument. Literally all his music sounds like guzheng to me. Impressionism is probably the closest word to describe what my inner image is like when I think about Debussy’s music, which is like a traditional Chinese ink painting from hundreds of years ago.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

The Carolina horsenettle in the forest from this morning. Tough little berries in freezing cold morning! They’ve got brown hair too ;-)

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 223rd episode — Rain song.

Rain song is featured in a duo record by classical guitarist Gyan Riley and me, called Pluck . I sing in Chinese and English in this song. My friends Abigail Washburn, Kai Welch and myself co-wrote the English lyrics. (The three of us are also known as The Wu-Force.)

I’d also like to share the exciting news that my 2020 duo record with Abigail Washburn is on the best albums of 2020 list from The Times (of London)! I’m honored to be among the amazing musicians on this list.

All these dear records mentioned above are available online. They could make great holiday gifts to your loved ones and yourselves.

Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn

Pluck

The Wu-Force

A Distant Youth

Thank you for your support again and see you in the next episode!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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The Wu-Force EP

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 220th episode — Great blue.

This improvisation on solo guzheng was recorded yesterday inspired by a great blue heron (photo below) that I share a forest with.

It made me think of a poem by Ms. Li Qingzhao 李清照 (1084 -1155) from the Song Dynasty.

There is an English translation I found here by Xu Zhongjie 徐忠杰 .

RumenglingI often recall the brookside pavilion,Where I was detained against the waning day.I was so drunk that I couldn't know my way home.But I had all the fun. Indeed, I was gay.All the pleasure spent, I managed to return.I plunged deep among water-lilies my sculls.I struggled and struggled out of the tangle.I thus alarmed a beach of herons and gulls.

The poem in Chinese:

《如梦令·常记溪亭日暮》

宋朝：李清照

常记溪亭日暮，沉浸不知归路。

兴尽晚回舟，误入藕花深处。

争渡，争渡，惊起一滩鸥鹭。

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for suvscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 216th episode — Bed pirates.

It was composed and recorded yesterday on guzheng multitrack.

Hope this piece starts your week with joy.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Ice lens. Photo by my husband Jeremy from yesterday.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 213th episode — Little tree.

Little tree is featured in the duo record of Gyan Riley and I. It is called Pluck , Recorded and mixed by Jeff Cook in July 2011 in Brooklyn, NYMastered by Scott Hull Mastering in Oct. 2011 in New York, NY

A short bio of Pluck:

Pluck is a string duo formed by Wu Fei (guzheng / voice) and Gyan Riley (guitar) in the summer of 2011 in New York City. Not long after being introduced by composer/producer John Zorn, they kicked off their collaboration with a series of shows at The Stone, Barbès, and the Museum of Modern Art.

Both Wu and Riley are classically trained performers and composers who have also embraced various improvisational styles. After the duo's first performance, the New York Times noted how "Few stylistic boundaries are left intact in this collaboration." Together they draw on a huge variety of traditions, including jazz, Indian raga, and Chinese, Spanish, and Western classical music. In previous projects, the artists have also collaborated with musicians such as Zakir Hussain, Bela Fleck, Fred Frith, John Zorn, and Terry Riley.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo by Jennifer S. Altman for the New York Times in 2011. Gyan and I gave a duo performance at The Stone, NYC.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 209th episode — The three moon gates.

This guzheng-vocal improvisation was recorded yesterday.

I would like to dedicate this piece to the memory of the neighborhood, the place where I grew up and became a young musician — Prince Gong’s Palace 恭王府 in Beijing, which was originally built in 1777. China Conservatory of Music was located inside of this palace when I was a high school student there for several years. It has been a museum and tourist attraction since 2008. My school had to move out then. My parents’ first house was only a mile west from Prince Gong’s palace (see photo below) literally on the same street.

I showed my 8-year old daughter photos of me with my teachers and classmates when I was 16 in the middle of the much-more-worn palace buildings that were my classrooms and recital halls. She was fascinated.

Prince Gong (1833–1898), who owned this royal mansion and garden, was an influential and controversial statesman of the Qing Dynasty. In the conservatory, there were a lot of interesting and crazy stories about the palace. I remember it being a magnificent, mysterious, huge compound. In winter, it became scary for my classmates and I to walk from our practice building to our evening study classroom. It was always dark, cold, windy. We had to walk through three different moon gates to get to the classroom, which was a palace building 大殿.

We had heard a lot of ghosts stories about the palace. No one dared to walk alone in the cold dark evening passing through giant gates, high walls, hearing the 300-year old pine trees’ whistling in the wind. In my memories, the moon was always high and bright in the sky. The deeper we walked inside the compound, the less street light there was. My classmates and I always had to sprint through the last stretch between the second moon gate and the third moon gate because the alley was pitch dark, and closed off by super high walls that made us feel suffocated. But then we always had big laughs as soon as we rushed through the last moon gate that opened up to the big court yard where our classrooms were lit up, and full of students’ life. It was the best time of my youth growing up in this palace.

You can read more about Prince Gong’s Palace (or Prince Gong’s Mansion) here, Prince Gong’s Folly, edited by Claire Roberts and my dear friend Geremie Barmé published by China Heritage Project, The Australia National University.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I visited my high school in 2002 when it was still inside the palace. On the white board it says 中国音乐学院附中 China Conservatory of Music High School. I had already moved to the US by then.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 206th episode — Rangitoto.

It was created and recorded yesterday on sanxian 三弦 multitrack. I miss the ocean.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Our favorite spot in Auckland where we brought the children to play in the sand everyday looking over Rangitoto Island, a volcanic island. Photo taken from two years ago.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate it in America or elsewhere!

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 205th episode — Ya Li Da - The Wu-Force and chatterbird Live at Vanderbilt University.

This piece is my thanksgiving special. This concert — titled Migration, was held at Turner Hall in Blair School of Music in Vanderbilt University in January 2018. As the composer-in-residence for chatterbird ensemble, this concert featured six of my chamber works, performed by chatterbird musicians. My dear friends Abigail Washburn, Kai Welch and Melinda Lio were my guest musicians who shared their awesome performance with me on stage in this piece, Ya Li Da.

Ya Li Da 压力大 means “the pressure is big” in Chinese. The phrase has been a popular internet phrase among Chinese netizens for the last decade to express the social pressure everyone has been living under caused by rapid economic growth. I first recorded the song with The Wu-Force, is a project of mine with Abigail and Kai. We formed the group in Beijing about ten years ago. Although the three of us had been busy touring different routes, when we had time together, we wrote music. You can listen to our first release from 2017 on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.

I’d like to share the audio and the video of this piece to show my gratitude to all the friends I’ve made, worked with whom have helped me in Nashville.

Music by The Wu-Force

Orchestrated by Wu Fei

Musicians:

The Wu-Force:

Wu Fei (guzheng/voice), Abigail Washburn (banjo/voice), Kai Welch (piano/voice)

chatterbird ensemble:

Celine Thackston (flute), Maya Stone (bassoon), Melinda Lio (pipa), Rebekah Alexander (soprano), Jesse Strauss (percussion), Ryan Cockman (violin), Josh Dent (cello), Tim Pearson (double bass)

Film director: Tom Krueger

Editor: Lauren Balthrop

Audio engineer: Kevin Edlin

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

The Wu-Force EP

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 202nd episode — The plum forest.

It was composed and recorded yesterday on my vocals and snapping all multi-tracking.

Like every time when I make a new creation, I always end up on a path that I did not intend to be on when I start the first note. However, it always gives me the best result because I could not have predicted it.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Summer 2016, I played the guzheng and sang into the sound hole at the Parthenon in Nashville.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 199th episode —Hairy Maclary improvisation.

It was recorded yesterday on guzheng and narration by me. The book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy first published in 1983, is the first and most well-known of a series of books by New Zealand author Lynley Dodd featuring Hairy Maclary. His adventures are usually in the company of his other animal friends who include the dachshund Schnitzel von Krumm. His arch-enemy is the tomcat Scarface Claw.

My in-laws bought the entire series of Hairy Maclary for my children when we visited them in New Zealand in the past. Every time when I read the stories to my kids, there is a sonic narration in my head.

You can find the book on Amazon and many online platforms.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Hairy Maclary from the book.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 195th episode — Folding.

This piece was created yesterday on electronic sounds, inspired by the pattern of this wooden toy tower (photo below) my children and my husband built together.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 192nd episode — The Alps.

It was created and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng. I was missing playing around the world before the pandemic.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I got to play on top of the Alps where Italy borders Austria in 2008. It was magical!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 188th episode — Feet and hands.

This guzheng composition was created and recorded yesterday after a beautiful hike we had around our neighborhood in Nashville.

Hope this piece starts your week with a lot of energy! Sending my best wishes to you all.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 185th episode — Jajaja.

It was created and recorded yesterday on my vocals, marimba, drums (software instruments). I nearly broke the keyboard on my laptop by pounding on it so hard. It surely felt good afterwards.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

The sun is rising!

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 181st episode — Guzheng night song 8.

It was composed and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng.

Before I started recording, I received a lovely gift from a dear friend who knitted these warm and beautiful socks for me (photo below). She’s been a very special friend whom I have not met in person, but has shown me kindness in so many ways. It has been a difficult year for everyone around the world. This friend has recently lost her father. Knowing that everyone is going through some kind of hardship makes me appreciate my family and my friends. Hope this song will help you go through a hard day if you are dealing with hardship, or simply to help you fall asleep tonight. Wish you all well!

With gratitude,

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Halloween everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 179th episode — Granny thunder.

I’d like to share this piece to everyone including non-paying subscribers as a Halloween special.

It was created and recorded yesterday on all vocals by me. I was having bad allergy caused by the pollen that was flying in the air in Nashville after the sun came out. I couldn’t breath while I was recording so I decided to sing in a style that would force me to breath. It kinda worked.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I was happy at first when the sun came out, and then I was itchy for the rest of the day. That’s life I guess :)

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 178th episode — Mount Slingshot.

It was created and recorded yesterday. It features prepared guzheng and my vocals. I saw my daughter’s elastic hair bands laying around the house right before I went into my studio. By instinct, I grabbed them feeling they maybe useful. Here they are on my guzheng. The sound that gives the percussive noise in the recording is from me pulling the rubber bands which then bounced back to the strings. It felt a bit like shooting with a slingshot.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 174th episode — Grey hair.

It was created & recorded yesterday on piano and vocals performed by me. Right before I dove in to my daily creation, I was putting my hair up in front of the mirror and spotted a few grey hair. And then this piece was born.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

On a grey day I found grey hair on my head, that’s when I realized my child has grown much bigger.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 171st episode — My morning friend.

It was created and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng, inspired by a surprise visit by this little friend below :)

I’d also like to share that my music daily has been voted The Best Music Newsletter 2020 by The Nashville Scene:

https://local.nashvillescene.com/publication/best-of-nashville/2020/arts-music-and-culture/best-music-newsletter

Big thanks to your support again and to the wonderful creative community of Nashville! I’m feeling loved!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 167th episode — Guzheng étude 3.

It was recorded yesterday after I listened to American composer Frank Zappa’s orchestral work The Yellow Shark. It had been a few years since the last time I listened to this recording. It was an incredible listening experience to hear much more this time. It’s like watching a classic film or reading a novel again later in your life with new understanding and more discoveries in the work.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Photo taken in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa in July 2010. Our jeep happened to pass by two young male elephants. They were either fighting or just playing a game with each other. This one (the bigger one) saw us and started to chase us. Our ranger’s quick response got us out of the danger quickly!

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 164th episode — Song without words 2.

It was created and recorded yesterday after my husband I voted in our presidential election. This piece features guzheng, yangqin (Chinese dulcimer) and my vocals.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This was my husband’s first time voting in a presidential election as a US citizen. I’m proud him!

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 160th episode — Guzheng étude 1.

It was created and recorded yesterday on solo guzheng. It was a good finger exercise!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Sometimes a guzheng needs its pool time. Actually I wanted to play it while I swam - double the exercise :) Photo taken in May 2016 in Nashville.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 157th episode — Guzheng night song 2.

It was composed and recorded yesterday. I’d like to dedicate this piece to all my old friends whom I often miss the good old time spent with them.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Blue lobelia blossoming in the chilly fall in Nashville.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 153rd episode — Owl breakfast.

It was created and recorded yesterday. I sat in front of the mic and told myself to find a pitch to see what happens. I started with an F#, and it ended up with this all-vocal track.

Speaking of vocal tracks, I just found out that my new collaborative album with the incredible singer-songwriter Abigail Washburn - titled Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn produced by banjo master Béla Fleck, released on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has been accepted by the 63rd Grammy Awards in the Folk category. I’m in awe to be among all the amazingly talented and hard working musicians around the country. I hope to bring you more exciting news as the process moves further!

Thank you all for your wonderful support!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

If you have not heard this record, it is available on all digital platforms. You can hear the first song on this record in the link below.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 150th episode — The moon gongs.

It is an a cappella piece composed and recorded, and mixed using different tracks of my own voice. In the recording, my voices imitate the sound of a Peking opera percussion ensemble (京剧锣鼓经) at times.

I studied Peking opera as an undergrad student back in Beijing. Besides learning the singing, knowing to how sing the percussion ensemble, as a tradition was equally important as the singing and dance. It was actually my favorite part of learning the opera :)

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Evening primrose looking like little moon gongs to me.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 149th episode - Song from The Peony Pavilion.

Today is the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, aka the Moon Festival. I’d like to share this track with everyone who subscribes my newsletter. The moon is the brightest and the fullest of the whole year. The full moon symbolizes the completeness and reunion of families.

The song in the recording is a famous piece from the Kunqu opera 昆曲 - The Peony Pavilion 《牡丹亭》. This opera was first performed in 1598 at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. You can read more about it here .

Hope you all are enjoying a beautiful evening!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This little tree is turning bright red right now.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 146th episode — The hidden moth.

It was created and recorded yesterday on harp, marimba and electric piano all virtual instruments.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I was taking photos of the goldenrod flowers, and then spotted these little colorful creatures hidden in the flowers. They are ailanthus webworms. Photo taken on Sep. 18 in west Nashville.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 143rd episode — The cosmopolitan kind.

It was composed and recorded yesterday on piano performed by me.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

The leaves on the hop-bushes look like rubies to me! Photo taken by me two days ago in Nashville.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 139th episode — Guzheng piano two hands medley.

It was recorded and filmed on April 29 this year. During the early lockdown days, I was unsure about what I was supposed to do everyday. My children were home 24/7. I was trying to figure out what my work was going look like and when the pandemic would end. I’m sure you all were in panic and confusion back then. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t play with other musicians in the same room.

Practicing music helped me to escape the harsh reality. I started writing guzheng and piano duet pieces. I was pushed to do everything by myself at the same time. This video was the first completion of this new experiment of playing guzheng and piano, and as singing at the same time.

Below is the video of this recording if you’d like to see how I did.

Wish you all a good start of the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for your generous support to Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 136th episode — Dance of the fireweed.

It was composed and recorded yesterday on piano and vocals performed by me.

Fall has arrived. The forest near our home in Nashville is having a color festival every second. It’s truly the best season of the year. Sending my best wishes to you all!

By the way, the moon festival is coming up in two weeks :)

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Fireweed is blossoming under our big pine tree right now. It is native to the Americas.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 132nd episode — Dimpled lily.

This improvisation was recorded on the piano by me yesterday on another rainy afternoon.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A dimpled trout lily in the west Nashville hills from two weeks ago.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 130th episode — Seventy two changes.

It was recorded yesterday. I’d also like to share with you all a wonderful news I received yesterday right before I made this recording. My new album, titled Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn, a debut collaborative release with Abigail Washburn (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) is voted the Best TransRegional Album of 2019-2020 on Transglobal World Music Chart!

I am feeling utterly humbled to be among all the incredibly talented and hard working musicians around the world. Big thanks to our supportive fans! 谢谢 🙏

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Sweet thistle is blossoming in Nashville from last week.

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Hi Monday everyone and happy labor day in USA,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 126th episode — Chasing.

It was created and recorded on multi-track, half-muted guzheng yesterday.

Hope you are having a good beginning of the week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A harnessed tiger moth was resting in my kitchen yesterday. What a cool looking creature it is! It makes homo sapiens quite boring looking species, doesn’t it?

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for your subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 123rd episode — Improvisation northwest.

It was recorded yesterday. This improvisation is on guzheng and voice.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A beautiful string instrument hanging in the back porch of my house yesterday. Wish I could pluck them.

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 119th episode — The other three.

Composed and recorded yesterday, this piece has my vocals and GarageBand percussion (marimba, Chinese drums, cymbals, gong, Japanese taiko drums, and shakers).

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I took this photo a few days ago near where we live in Nashville. Always happy to see bees coming around. These cup plant flowers must taste good to them :)

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 116th episode — Big broccoli.

It was created and recorded yesterday. All parts performed by me. Inspired by my dear friend Chen Yang’s beautiful photos. This is near where he and his family live north of Beijing. We used to hike on this part of the Great Wall a lot.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 112th episode — If I was a batman queen.

This composition of mine was composed and premiered in 2017.

Composed for chamber orchestra + guzheng + voice. Commissioned & performed by Intersection Ensemble.

Conductor / ensemble director: Kelly Corcoran

91Classical Nashville Public Radio had a wonderful write up about my inspiration for writing this work by Kara McLeland. You can read it here.

Premiere video of the piece with Intersection Ensemble at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) on Feb 12, 2017. Video Noelle Panepento.

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 109th episode — A chirping night.

It was recorded yesterday on partially prepared guzheng. You can see how I did it below.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Key chain rings and an unfolded paper clip.

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Happy Tuesday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 106th episode — Rat 2020, which I am also sending out to non-paying subscribers.

I want to take this moment to send my gratitude to your generous support since the very beginning when I launched this new project in early May this year. It is a privilege to have supporters and audiences from all over the globe - Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. This year has made history and it is still setting all kinds of records everyday. This piece is a summary for what has been going through my mind since the pandemic started.

The recording was completed yesterday. I started experimenting with these virtual instruments about three weeks ago. And then I let those tracks sit for a while until yesterday when I felt the a craving to put a conclusion to it. So I added the guzheng. It has been a fascinating learning experience for me. My music vocabularies have certainly been widened through this project . Thank you for being with me, and I hope to perform live again for you when it’s safe to travel again.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A drawing by my daughter when the year of the Rat started early this year.

———————————————————————-

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 105th episode —I’m knocking.

I recorded it yesterday using virtual instruments in the software GarageBand. Hope you enjoy it.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I’m curious if anyone has moved in here.

———————————————————————-

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 102nd episode — Bringing in the wine 将进酒。

It was recorded yesterday on guzueng and voice by me. The poem is Li Bai’s Bringing in the wine (将进酒), written around A.D. 752.

Li Bai (李白 701–762 ) is my favorite Chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty. You can read more about him here.

Rough translation of the poem from here:

BRINGING IN THE WINE

See how the Yellow River's waters move out of heaven.

Entering the ocean, never to return.

See how lovely locks in bright mirrors in high chambers,

Though silken-black at morning, have changed by night to snow.

...Oh, let a man of spirit venture where he pleases

And never tip his golden cup empty toward the moon!bai

Since heaven gave the talent, let it be employed!

Spin a thousand pieces of silver, all of them come back!

Cook a sheep, kill a cow, whet the appetite,

And make me, of three hundred bowls, one long drink!

...To the old master, Cen,

And the young scholar, Danqiu,

Bring in the wine!

Let your cups never rest!

Let me sing you a song!

Let your ears attend!

What are bell and drum, rare dishes and treasure?

Let me be forever drunk and never come to reason!

Sober men of olden days and sages are forgotten,

And only the great drinkers are famous for all time.

...Prince Chen paid at a banquet in the Palace of Perfection

Ten thousand coins for a cask of wine, with many a laugh and quip.

Why say, my host, that your money is gone?

Go and buy wine and we'll drink it together!

My flower-dappled horse,

My furs worth a thousand,

Hand them to the boy to exchange for good wine,

And we'll drown away the woes of ten thousand generations

This is a calligraphy of this poem by a good friend of my father in Beijing. It was a gift from him to my father for my parents’ departure moving to the US a year ago.

———————————————————————

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 98th episode — The N3.

It was recorded yesterday. Instruments are: guzheng, drum, and facial cleansing brush. Inspired by a road trip I had in South Africa in 2010. We were driving on the highway N3 from Durban to Johannesburg and saw a pick up truck with two llamas in the back.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Llamas on the N3, South Africa.

———————————————————————

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Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 95th episode — Calling Kwazulu.

It was recorded yesterday, inspired by the beautiful coast of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa.

This photo was taken in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa in 2011. It was amazing experience playing next to the Indian Ocean. While I was playing, I could see whales swimming by just a few hundred yards away.

———————————————————————

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To do this, login to your account at wufeimusic.substack.com and click on the downward facing arrow at the top right of the screen, then click “My Account.” Look for “private podcast feed” and then “Click here to set up your podcast app.”

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 91st episode — Sunset in the fishing boat (渔舟唱晚.)

I recorded this yesterday, August 2, a very special day in our family.

Exactly one year ago, I carried out the biggest mission in life —bringing my parents from Beijing to their new home, Nashville, Tennessee. It was my mom’s first time ever leaving China in her 70 years of life, and both of my parents’ first time coming to the U.S. It took the our family more than two years to prepare the paperwork and several years of emotional processing.

I took the photo below one year ago, when our plane was above Nashville close to landing. I’m proud of my mom and dad. They’ve been living well in Nashville since they arrived. I feel extremely grateful for having them close especially during this difficult time. The strength from having my family together helps me conquer any hurdle in life.

This piece is an ancient classical guzheng piece from Shandong province. It’s about a fisherman rowing his boat going home singing in the sunset after a day of fishing. In Chinese culture, sunset symbolizes one’s late life. This piece is my parents’ favorite guzheng music. I’d like to decide it to them and hope their late life is as beautiful as Nashville’s gorgeous sunset.

Aug. 2, 2019. I captured the moment when our plane was on top of Nashville about to land.

One year anniversary party yesterday! 干杯, cheers!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 88th episode — Chive Dance.

It was composed & recorded on piano by me yesterday. the inspiration comes from the lunch that my parents made for us —dumplings with chive and pork fillings (韭菜猪肉馅儿饺子. )

Hope you are having a good Friday!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Our lunch from yesterday :)

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 87th episode — Tasmanian devil.

It was created & recorded yesterday. My daughter was reading her new book “Who Would Win? Wolverine vs. Tasmanian devil” yesterday morning. I decided to create a piece for “Tasmanian devil” . Its scientific name means “flesh lover.” Here it is.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A photo of a Tasmanian devil from Wikipedia.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 84th episode — Crab Song.

Crab Song (螃蟹歌) is a folk song from Zigong (自贡) in Sichuan. It was traditionally sung by workers who specialized in transporting large rocks down from quarries in the mountains. The song is sung in Sichuanese dialect.

Why Crab song? I think it’s because the workers looked like crabs when they move while carrying heavy stones.

This recording was made in Chengdu, Sichuan in 2013, by Wei Xiaoshi (魏小石) who is an ethnomusicologist friend of mine. He was working on a series field recording projects all over northwest China in 2013. I was living in Beijing at that time. One day, I received a call from Xiaoshi asking if I’d be interested in making a record with an 84-year old folk singer in Sichuan who was considered the king of folk song in the region.

Two weeks later, I got on a plane to Chengdu, with my entire family and began recording with Mr. Zhu Zhongqing (朱中庆), who sang the lead vocal in this recording. The rest of the male vocals are 5 singers from Sichuan Song and Dance Troupe (四川歌舞团) who were Mr. Zhu’s buddies. Most of them were older than 70, except me.

I played prepared guzheng in this track. None of the old singers had ever seen a guzheng used in an irregular way —prepared and improvisational. But no one cared. We had a blast playing together.

Chengdu has always been considered one of the most fun cities in China. So it was no brainer for my husband to want to come along with our 1-year old baby. We knew we were going to have a blast, and we did. Xiaoshi wrote an insightful blog about this collaboration here (in Chinese). I read it again today and it brought smiles and tears to my face.

Mr. Zhu passed away a few years ago. He still had a lot of dreams about making more music when he was nearly 90 years old. He was truly inspiring! I feel extremely lucky, grateful and honored to have had this opportunity to be enlightened by his passion and to absorb his wisdom for the joy of music and life!

I was reminded of Mr. Zhu and this happy time in Chengdu by the recent news of the closure of the U.S. consulate there. The country of my birth and my adopted country are at each other’s throats — it’s good to remember that there are wonderful people in both places.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

During a rehearsal at Sichuan Song and Dance Troupe rehearsal hall. Photo By Liuxin

At the show I did with Mr. Zhu Zhongqing at Machu Picchu, Chengdu, 2013. Photo By Liuxin

Wei Xiaoshi in the recording session, photo By Liuxin

Chengdu was such a laid back city. I just left my gear on the side walk while we had hot pot with friends in the restaurant after a whole day of recording.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Friday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily! This is the 81st episode — Beaming sun on cloud nine.

It’s recorded yesterday on guzheng, vocal and drum by me. It’s my version of a folk song called 《太阳出来喜洋洋》—Beaming sun on cloud nine from Sichuan province. It is one of the most well-known folk songs in China. I sang it with a little bit of the Sichuan accent.

Hope this track will bring you sunshine to your Friday!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Lyrics:

太阳出来罗儿/喜洋洋欧/郎罗

挑起扁担郎郎扯/光扯/上山岗欧罗罗

手里拿把罗儿/开山斧欧/郎罗

不怕虎豹郎郎扯/光扯/和豺狼欧罗罗

The sun is indeed beaming the whole afternoon!

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Happy Monday everyone,

Thank you for subscribing Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 77th episode —Got boats?

It was recorded yesterday on guzheng.

Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I folded these two origami boats for my children right before I went into the studio to record this track. They became the idea of this piece :)

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 74th episode — The Little Flowing River.

It was recorded yesterday on guzheng and vocal, arranged by me. It is inspired by a love folk song from Yunnan province in China called 《小河淌水》The little flowing river. This song is my mother’s favorite folk song. She just told me that, before she moved to Nashville with my father, she sang this song every time when she reached the top of the mountain during her daily hike that’s near her old home in the countryside of Beijing.

Hope you and your loved ones enjoy it!

Lyrics:

月亮出来亮汪汪, 亮汪汪, The moon comes out bright,

想起我的阿哥在深山。Thinking of my love in the deep mountains far away.

哥像月亮天上走, 天上走, My lover walks in the sky like the moon,

哥啊哥啊哥啊! My love oh my love!

山下小河淌水清悠悠。The little river at the bottom of the mountain is clear and flowing.

月亮出来照半坡，照半坡，The moon comes out and shines on the foothill,

望见月亮想起我阿哥。Seeing the moon, thinking of my love.

一阵清风吹上坡，吹上坡, A clear breeze blowing uphill,

哥啊哥啊哥啊！My love oh my love!

你可听见阿妹叫阿哥? Can you hear me calling you?

Butterfly milkweed, native of Tennessee. I see them on the hiking trail near my home in Nashville.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wufeimusic.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 71st episode —Scream Inside Your Heart.

It was composed and recorded yesterday on guzheng, vocals and xiao 萧, a Chinese vertical bamboo flute, all played by me. You can read more about thew xiao here.

Hope this track will bring you a moment fresh energy to your day!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A tortoise we encountered during a hike near where I live in west Nashville.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 70th episode —Coconut Étude.

It was recorded yesterday and inspired by Balinese gamelan music. I played in three different Balinese gamelan ensembles for about six years from Mills College in California (studied from Pak Windha), to Boulder/Colorado Springs/Laramie, WY (from Pak Made), and last GAMELAN DHARMA SWARA in NYC (from Pak Saptanyana.)

Studying gamelan music has had huge impact on opening up the spectrum of my knowledges of musical vocabularies and perspectives of performing art, as well as new cultural experiences. I’ve made a lot of good friends from playing the three gamelan ensembles. I hope to visit Bali in the future to learn more.

Hope you enjoy this track!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.co

A photo from 2008 after a concert with GAMELAN DHARMA SWARA in the Indonesian Consulate in NYC

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 67th episode —Cotton Fish Cloud.

It was recorded yesterday. Hope this track will bring you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

The sky right outside of my home studio the moment when I finished this piece.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 63rd episode —Rabbit on the road.

It was recorded yesterday. Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A photo from yesterday — wild rosepink, a native flower of Nashville.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 61st episode — Amazing Grace.

For my American friends, happy July 4th!

Hope this track will bring you a moment of peace.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

We celebrated my father’s first birthday in the US yesterday. As a Chinese tradition, we had peaches for him. Happy birthday dad and USA!

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 61st episode — A Chameleon In Iceland.

It was recorded in late April this year during the early time of Nashville’s lockdown.

Hope you enjoy it and stay safe wherever you are!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

I saw this flower from an American tulip tree on the day of this recording during a hike on the hills of west Nashville.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 60th episode —Gymnopédie 1.

It was recorded yesterday on vocals and guzheng performed by me. This composition of Erik Satie has been one of my favorite classical work of the 20th century.

Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

If you have children, this book is wonderful!

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 58th episode — Gulibita.

It was recorded yesterday.

Instrumentation: guzheng, sanxian, hand drum and vocals all performed and arranged by me. Listen to this track on a headphone if you can.

I knew this song as Why Is The Rose So Red (花儿为什么这样红) from childhood from a famous Chinese movie from 1963, Visitors on the Icy Mountain (冰山上的来客). As far as I can find out, the melody is adapted from a Tajik folk song. Gulibita is a girl’s name in Tajik. It is a love song.

Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

I learned this song from my father since I had memory. He made this traditional Beijing meat pie 肉饼 last night for us. The song and this dish have been part of my childhood.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 57th episode —Summertime.

George Gershwin’s Summertime has been one of my favorite American tunes. It was recorded yesterday on a steamy hot day in Nashville.

Hope you are all doing well and staying safe!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Queen Anne’s lace in west Nashville

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 57th episode — 24 Carrots.

It was recorded yesterday. It’s my first time playing to programmed tracks and arrange live tracks and programmed tracks together. I had a lot fun doing it. Learning is the best!

Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Healthy and delicious!

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 55th episode — The Royal Groom 女驸马。

It was recorded yesterday. All parts are performed by me.

The song is from Huangmei Opera, a form of rural folksong and dance from Anhui Province that has been in existence for the last 200 years. It is one of the most famous and mainstream opera in China. You can read more about Huangmei Opera here.

The song in the recording is one of the best known pieces from a famous opera called 《女驸马》premiered in 1959. It is very difficult to translate this title. 驸马 (fù mǎ) is an old word and a title only used for the son-in-law of the Chinese emperors. 女 (nǚ) means female.

The widely known version of this story is about a young woman name Feng Suzhen who wanted to marry her true love instead of the man with whom her parents arranged a marriage. Suzhen saw the only way to convince her parents to change their mind was to have an order from the emperor.

She was from an educated family. She decided to dress like a man to go to the capital to take the annual national exam. If she did well, she could be given an official position working for the emperor. She ended up become number one of the country from the exam result. The rule was that the champion of the national exam must marry the daughter of the emperor.

However, Suzhen would be executed by the emperor if he found out the truth. She didn’t know what to do but to show up to her wedding with the princess. On the wedding night, Suzhen (dressed like a royal groom) confessed to the princess why she lied to the emperor. The princess was moved by Suzhen’s bravery, intelligence and determination to be with her true love. The princess asked a pardon for Suzhen from the emperor. Suzhen was let go free and return to her hometown with the emperor’s command to marry the man she loved.

You can watch the 1959 original opera production on this YouTube link. The main character was played by the most renown Hui Opera singer Ms. Yan Fengying 严凤英.

Lyrics：

为救李郎离家园，谁料皇榜中状元

中状元着红袍，头戴宫花好哇好新鲜哪。

我也曾赴过琼林宴，我也曾打马御街前。

人人夸我潘安貌，头戴官花好啊好新鲜哪。

我考状元不为把名显，我考状元不为做高官

为了多情的李公子，夫妻恩爱花好月儿圆哪！

This is the cover art of this opera’s DVD production. This is the main character —Feng Suzhen 冯素珍 dressing in a man’s opera robe。

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 51st episode —Pico de Orizaba.

I wrote this song and recorded yesterday. I met a new friend on zoom yesterday whose life story touched me very much. He is from Mexico. In this song, he and his family reunite at the foothills of Pico de Orizaba mountain, and they reached the top together!

There is an old Chinese phrase —父爱如山, the love of a father is like a mountain.

Hope you are connecting to you loved ones!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A photo of Pico de Orizaba in Mexico. Hope I’ll visit there someday.

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Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 50th episode —Guerrillas' Song 游击队之歌。

Happy Father’s Day everyone (this time for real — this was my last tune about Father’s Day a week early!

I recorded it yesterday with my father. He plays the sanxian on this one. Guerrillas' Song游击队之歌 was a very popular song in China when I was a child. Until yesterday, both my father and I thought it was a Chinese tune. But we found out it is actually an old British military marching song called "The British Grenadiers" dating back to the 17th century.

The Chinese lyrics are below. This version was written in 1937 by He Luting during the Sino-Japanese war era, and popularized by the Communist Party People’s Liberation Army.

Both my father and I are glad that we now know the origin of this song that we’ve enjoyed playing for decades because it is a good tune! We had fun recording it as our father-daughter weekend hang!

Hope you are having a good weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

我们都是神枪手

每一颗子弹消灭一个敌人

我们都是飞行军

哪怕那山高水又深

在密密的树林里

到处都安排同志们的宿营地

在高高的山岗上

有我们无数的好兄弟

没有吃，没有穿，

自有那敌人送上前

没有枪，没有炮

敌人给我们造

我们生长在这里

每一寸土地都是我们自己的

无论谁要抢占去

我们就和他拼到底.

This photo was taken in late October 2009 in my parents’ old apartment in Beijing.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 48th episode — She Huo 社火。

This recording is featured in my chamber ensemble album YUAN (2008, Tzadik Records) .

Music and poem composed by Wu Fei.Performed by Percussions Claviers de Lyon (France).Pipa: Pan Eqing 潘娥青, Guzheng/Voice: Wu Fei.

Written for Guzheng, Pipa, Voice, Marimbas (4), Vibraphones (2), Tom-Toms, Temple Blocks, Tambourine, Triangles, Singing Bowls & Chinese Gongs.Recorded live in concert at The Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing.Commissioned by Beijing International Festival Chorus.

I learned enormously from working with the best musicians in the world. It was not easy to impress the French about contemporary classical music. France has had some of the most influential artists and composers in the world. I was nervous when I met all the percussionists in Lyon for the first time. They were all the most distinguished alumni of Conservatoire de Lyon, and the ensemble had been running professionally for 22 years by then. I knew I was being examed by them on that trip! Old school ;)

The pipa soloist is Ms. Pan Eqing, the principal chair of China Film Symphony Orchestra at the time.

Hope you enjoy this piece!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A rehearsal with all the musicians in the Forbidden City Concert Hall the day before the premiere in 2007.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 44th episode —The Cicada Suite.

It was recorded by Martin Rawlins in 2010 in Beijing.

Hope you are having a good start of a new week!

Wu Fei 吴非

Summer 2009, a hiking trip on the Great Wall in Miyun District in Beijing

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 41st episode — Lychee Time .

It was recorded yesterday. I played a sanxian (southern style Chinese traditional 3-string fretless lute). I used the gourd as a drum & did all the vocals myself.

Hope you are having a good Friday!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

My 小三弦 sanxian used in the recording.

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Hi everyone,

Thank you for subscribing to Wu Fei’s Music Daily. This is the 39th episode — These Cats and Those Cats.

It was recorded yesterday using my voice and an iPhone. I had a lot of fun making this track.

The words in the recording are below. It basically means it’s an old bias that mice are afraid of cats.

老鼠怕猫，这是谣言。一只小猫，有啥可怕？壮起鼠胆，把猫打翻。千古偏见，一定推翻！黑猫还是白猫啊？家猫还是野猫啊？

Hope you are having a good week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This was in Fiji in 2018. It was smallest island I’ve ever been on.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 37th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Chatty Chairs.

It was recorded yesterday.

The tongue twister is about chairs and poles:

扁担长，板凳宽，板凳没有扁担长，扁担没有板凳宽。扁担绑在了板凳上，板凳不让扁担绑在了板凳上，扁担偏要扁担绑在了板凳上。

Hope this piece will bring a little joy to your Monday!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

A 扁担 pole and a 板凳 chair

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Hi everyone,

This is the 30th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Seven Thousand Miles.

I had a fun conversation with the thunders. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2016.

Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This is where I recorded this piece.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 29th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily —Freight Train.

Freight Train is an American folk song written by Elizabeth Cotten in the early 20th century. I discovered Elizabeth Cotten soon after I saw a concert of blind musician Doc Watson in Boulder, Colorado more than 15 years ago.

From my own background of strict training in Chinese traditional and western classical music, I rarely heard voices and music like this — that is simple in the form but deep in the soul. I started to read more about Elizabeth Cotten’s story. What an inspiration she was! She played the guitar in a unique way called"Cotten picking”, which created very interesting sound.

Hope you all are staying safe and strong during this difficult time!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

Elizabeth Cotten (1893 - 1987)

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Hi everyone,

This is the 28th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily —Hawk Dance.

The inspiration is from a beloved folk melody that I’ve known since childhood. It is called Dance of The Yi People (or Yi Dance) 彝族舞曲 from the Yi people , an ethnic group in China, Vietnam and Thailand.

There have been solo instrumental versions that are based on this melody for the pipa, guzheng, ruan, as well as for Chinese traditional ensembles and orchestras. The instrument I used in this track is the liuqin 柳琴, a pear-shaped 4-string lute. Its size is similar to the mandolin. You can read more about the liuqin here.

It was recorded 3 days ago and I’m finally happy today with the final result. It has been enormously satisfying for me to create music this way on my own. It feels completely liberating. There’s still so much to learn especially on the technical aspect of recording and engineering. However, I am having a blast learning!

Hope you enjoy it!

Wu Fei 吴非

This is the liuqin I played in the recording. My parents shipped a bunch of instruments for me from China when they moved to Nashville from Beijing last summer. It was the best gift for me! I just wish I had more arms and fingers to play them all at the same time like an octopus woman, that would be amazing!

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Happy Friday everyone,

This is the 27th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily —Four glasses and one fork.

It is a story about four wine glasses and a tuning fork, recorded in my kitchen two days ago. When my children heard this track while they were brushing teeth in the evening, they asked me if I could play it for their bedtime :) Hope you enjoy it!

Peace,

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

This photo was taken in Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, California in June 2011. I was doing a month long composer fellowship under their Lucas Artists Residency program. In the photo, I was in the studio of Mexican composer/inventor Ernesto Martínez who was my neighbor for the same residency. He was building this instrument at that time.

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Happy Monday everyone,

This is the 23rd episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Big leaves. It was recorded three days ago using prepared guzheng and voice. I prepared the guzheng by threading a flattened paper clip through sets of five strings in the mid range, and looping key rings onto individual strings in an octave lower.

Hope you all are having a relaxing long weekend!

Wu Fei 吴非

A Palace Concert of Tang is a silk painting from the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). The women were playing music, drinking tea and wine, and playing games. The guzheng player is in between the pipa (4 string lute) player and the sheng (mouth organ) player. This painting is currently in Taipei National Palace Museum. I hope to bring my whole family to visit the museum one day. It’s on the top of my bucket list.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 20th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Green plums and a bamboo horse 青梅竹马. I composed this piece in 1997 when I was a freshman student at the China Conservatory of Music.

It was written for Chinese bamboo flute and pipa, and commissioned by the Huaxia Chamber Ensemble. Flautist Zhang Weiliang 张维良 (artistic director of the ensemble, soloist for the sound track of the film Farewell My Concubine) and pipa player Chen Yihan 陈一涵 performed the work. It was a true honor to have two of China’s best musicians performing my work when I was only 19. I made the recording at the premiere concert at China Conservatory of Music in 1997 with a Walkman tape recorder.

The meaning of 青梅竹马 is literally “green plums and a bamboo horse,” but it’s used to mean a close, innocent childhood friendship between a boy and girl.

This new music daily project is in some ways a way to use what I started doing as a teenager: composing music every day. It fills me with joy and a feeling of accomplishment when I practice and create music everyday.

Thank you for listening!

Wu Fei 吴非

This photo was taken after the premiere concert. It was a dinner party to celebrate the student composers whose work were selected by Huaxia Chamber Ensemble. Most of the composition students were women. The man who is standing is my teacher back then — Professor Gao Weijie 高为杰, China’s most influential composer and music educator, the chair of the composition department at the time. All the women in the photo were all his students from different years. The table behind us was Professor Luo Lianglian 罗良琏 , Professor Gao’s wife who taught opera. Many of her students in the photo sang in this concert. We were a big family!

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Hi Everyone,

This is the 16th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Fantaisie-Impromptu 2010.

It was recorded by my friend David Moser who was hosting a TV show about culture in China at the time. You can watch the show I did with him on YouTube here . I played a traditional piece and an improvisation, which is featured in this episode. Hope you enjoy it！

Wu Fei 吴非

Note: A friendly reminder to people who have the free subscription: Starting on May 18, 2020, the free subscription will send to you every Monday and Friday. All the paid subscribers will continue to receive a new piece of music by me everyday. Thank you all very much for your support !

Ichi liked my guzheng. Photo taken in 2010 in Beijing.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 15th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Qin Qiong bids farewell. It’s from a famous Peking Opera called Three Families Inn or Sanjiadian三家店。The lyrics of the song are in the voice of Qin Qiong, a military general who is being led away to be imprisoned, lamenting that he will not be able to look after his mother, or reciprocate the friendship of his old friends and colleagues.

I learned this piece when I was a composition student at the China Conservatory of Music in mid-late 1990s.

I made this recording yesterday. It is utterly exciting for me to enter a new era of “orchestrating” all these voices in my head this way!

Hope you are all safe and well.

Wu Fei 吴非

Note: A friendly reminder to people who have the free subscription, starting on May 18, 2020, the free subscription will send to you every Monday and Friday. All the paid subscribers will continue to receive a new piece of music by me everyday. Thank you all very much for your support !

I need to get into the role when I sing a Laosheng 老生 aka an old man in Peking Opera.

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Hi Everyone,

This is the 14th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Two white suns. It is the sequel to the 13th episode - Two purple suns.

Wu Fei 吴非

This photo was taken in west Nashville, TN in May 2016.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 13th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Two purple suns.

This photo was taken in a watch tower on the Great Wall ruins in the countryside near Beijing in May 2010.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 12th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily — Mount Celestial.

Ancient Chinese poems were all sung out loud by the poets. Writing and singing poetry, along with music, painting, calligraphy, and playing Go, were the pursuits of Chinese scholars and intellectuals for more than a thousand years. I hope to echo and continue this lost ancient tradition.

The poem I sing is about nostalgia for a former life but feeling hopeful and connected to a beautiful new home.

Hope you enjoy this piece,

Wu Fei 吴非

江城子 - 前瞻马耳九仙山

Jiāng Chéngzǐ - qián zhān mǎ ěr jiǔ xiān shān

By Sū Shì 苏轼 (1037-1011) from the Song Dynasty.

前瞻马耳九仙山。碧连天。晚云闲。城上高台，真个是超然。莫使匆匆云雨散，今夜里，月婵娟。

小溪鸥鹭静联拳。去翩翩。点轻烟。人事凄凉，回首便他年。莫忘使君歌笑处，垂柳下，矮槐前。

My calligraphy practice of this poem.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 11th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily - Wind, birds, waves.

I recorded it outdoors. The wind was blowing. The whistling in the beginning is from wind sweeping through the 21 strings of my guzheng, without me touching it. All the harmonics of the strings were ringing and projected by the guzheng’s enormous hollowed wooden body.

The birds were as happy as always. It was a magical experience for me.

Hope you enjoy this moment,

Wu Fei 吴非

This photo was taken a week ago from near where I live on the west Nashville hills.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 10th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily: Call it out! It was recorded two days ago.

Hope you are well and safe,

Wu Fei 吴非

This photo was taken in 2011 in Hebei Province, China.

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Hi everyone,

This is the 9th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily. I recorded it yesterday on Mother’s Day, dedicating to my mother who is a Peking Opera fan. The singing in the piece is from a famous Peking Opera, The Drunken Beauty 贵妃醉酒.

The Drunken Beauty is one of the songs made famous by Mr. Mei Lanfang 梅兰芳, the founder of the Mei Style of Peking Opera performance.

The story is about Yang Yuhuan, a rare beauty and the Emperor’s favorite concubine. One day, she had appointment at the Flower Pavilion with him, but he did not show up. As she waited for him, starting to realize that he would not show up, she drinks her sorrows away.

The lyrics are below, in my hand.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Hi everyone,

This is the 8th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily. It was recorded last week.

Hope you are having a relaxing Sunday,

Wu Fei 吴非

This photo was taken on Great Wall ruins in the countryside near Beijing in 2011.

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Hi everyone,

Here’s the 7th episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily - Elephant.

I’d like to dedicate it to my husband’s family who were all born and raised in South Africa. Hope you will get to go there too. It’s an amazing country!

Virtual hugs,

Wu Fei 吴非

This photo was taken in Cape Town, South Africa in 2010 on the Cape of Good Hope, near where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet.

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Happy Friday friends,

I’d like to share this old Chinese saying with you all: 笑一笑，十年少。Laugh one laugh, (you become) ten years younger. Isn’t that the best!

This episode is the 6th recording since I started this new project. The Chinese tongue twisters in the recording are fun games for me to do with my family. After this recording, I realized that I know quite a few tongue twisters. Some are really challenging >_< I’d love to continue to share them with you all in the future episodes.

The first tongue twister is:

吃葡萄不吐葡萄皮儿，不吃葡萄倒吐葡萄皮儿。

chī pú tao bù tǔ pú tao pí 'er, bù chī pú tao dào tǔ pú tao pí 'er.

Eat grapes don’t spit the grapes’ skin. Don’t eat the grapes spitting the grapes’ skin.

The second tongue twister is:

高高山上一条藤，藤条藤上挂铜铃。风吹藤动铜铃动，风息藤停铜铃停。

gāo gāo shān shàng yī tiáo téng ，téng tiáo téng shàng guà tóng líng 。fēng chuī téng dòng tóng líng dòng ，fēng xī téng tíng tóng líng tíng.

On the high mountain there is an ivy. On the ivy there hangs a copper bell. The wind blows, the ivy moves, the copper bell whistles; The wind stops blowing, the ivy stops moving, and the copper bell spots whistling.

Let’s do it really really fast, haha!

Sending laughters your way!

Wu Fei 吴非

A character drawing by me. I’ve been doing this kind of drawing since I was a teenager. They look goofy and interesting to me :)

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Hi everyone,

Here is a piece I recorded last week. About two minutes into the piece, there’s a childhood melody that somehow kicked in my brain while I was playing. It’s a tune about young children selling newspaper during war time on the streets of Shanghai or Beijing to help their family to earn money. I’ve known the song since I was 4 or 5 years old. I only knew it as a happy and silly song back then. Now I am a grown up with two small children of my own, playing this “happy upbeat” song again gives me strange feelings.

Take care

Wu Fei 吴非

This is a photo of the woods near where I live west of Nashville. Taken in January.

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Hi everyone,

Here’s a piece I recorded in Nashville yesterday.

I’m still playing with the microphone setup, so please forgive the sound quality.

Stay happy，

Wu Fei 吴非

Here is picture of my mom, growing vegetables for our family during lockdown.

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Hi everyone,

This is the third episode of Wu Fei’s Music daily.

I recorded today’s track in Nashville late last night. The volume is a little soft: I am still playing around with different microphone setups.

Below is a photo of me age 6 in Beijing, playing my first guzheng.

Wu Fei 吴非

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Hi there,

This is the second episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily. It’s an improvised piece for guzheng. Just click “play” above to listen.

I recorded it four long years ago, during a family vacation in August 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. The recording engineer was Emily Wheatcroft-Snape. The studio was kindly provided by the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ). Special thanks to Stu Kawowski and Angus McNaughton.

The (new) title of the piece is a nod to the Queen of England, who recently said: “We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”

Below is a poem on a similar theme.

Stay safe!

Wu Fei 吴非

Poem by Zhang Jiuling 張九齡 (673–740)

The moon, grown full now over the sea,Brightening the whole of heaven,Brings to separated heartsThe long thoughtfulness of night…It is no darker though I blow out my candle. It is no warmer though I put on my coat. So I leave my message with the moon And turn to my bed, hoping for dreams.

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Hi there,

This is the first episode of Wu Fei’s Music Daily. If you like what you hear, tell your friends!

Wu Fei 吴非

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