Wu Fei's Music Daily

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 a toddler 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 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Wufeimusic.omWufeimusic.bandcamp.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 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Wufeimusic.comWufeimusic.bandcamp.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 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Wufeimusic.comWufeimusic.bandcamp.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,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wufeimuic.comwufeimusic.bandcamp.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 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 hereWatching 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wufeimusic.comwufeimusic.bandcamp.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 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Wufeimusic.comWufeimusic.bandcamp.comWu 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wufeimusic.comwufeimusic.bandcamp.comWu 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. 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 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Wufeimusic.comWufeimusic.bandcamp.comWu 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