Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Yesterday I was walking in a forest in West Nashville when I stopped at a patch of white flowers. Two monarch butterflies were resting on a cluster of white flowers (photo above). Every time I am this close to butterflies, I gaze at their wings for as long as they stay on the flowers. Today’s solo guzheng piece is inspired by this precious moment.

I went looking for a poem to go with it and landed on Zhang Bi, a poet of the late Tang / Five Dynasties period (active before 940 CE). His Butterflies is a short poem:

蝴蝶儿，晚春时。阿娇初著淡黄衣，倚窗学画伊。还似花间见，双双对对飞。无端和泪拭胭脂，惹教双翅垂。

Translation:

Butterflies, in late spring.A young girl in pale yellow, leaning at the window, learning to paint them.As if seen among the flowers, flying pair by pair.For no reason, tears fall and smear her rouge—making even the painted wings droop.

Hope this piece brings you a moment of joy to begin your week!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com (new concerts updated)

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

I am excited to share this superpower solo guzheng improvisation I recorded today, and my new concert tour dates for 2026–2027. There are still more concerts being confirmed. Please stay tuned here or on my website https://www.wufeimusic.com/concerts for the latest updates.

Can’t wait to head to your cities!

2026

Oct. 9 – The Freight, Berkeley, CAOct. 15 – Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PAOct. 16 – Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PAOct. 17 – World Music Institute, DROM, New York, NYOct. 18 – The Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, MDDec. 27 – The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, Big Sky, MT

2027

Feb. 7 – North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NCFeb. 22–24 – Agnes Scott College Residency, Atlanta, GAFeb. 25 – Barking Legs Theater, Chattanooga, TNMar. 5 – Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WYApr. 9–10 – Big Ears Boston, Cambridge, MAApr. 29 – Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Toronto, CanadaApr. 30 – Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Toronto, CanadaMay 21 – West Las Vegas Library (NEW), Las Vegas, NVMay 22 – West Charleston Library Lecture Hall, Las Vegas, NVMay 23 – Summerlin Library Theater, Las Vegas, NVSep. 15 – The Stone Residency at The New School, New York, NYSep. 16 – The Stone Residency at The New School, New York, NYSep. 17 – The Stone Residency at The New School, New York, NYSep. 18 – The Stone Residency at The New School, New York, NY

Bookings Contacts:Désirée Halac, [email protected]: +1.646.894.4021EU: +34.633.30.8484

Laura Duni, Managerial [email protected]: +1.484.515.5003

Tickets and details:

https://www.wufeimusic.com/concerts

I recorded a new guzheng improv thinking of Dolly Parton who passed away in Nashville. I also live in Nashville. She’s been an inspiration to me. I always dreamed of meeting her but never got the chance. I never expected to feel so heartbroken when any celebrity dies, but her passing has been really difficult. On the day I heard she died, I had to distract myself from crying all evening by helping my son with his homework. Dolly loved butterflies. She’s one now: light, free, still floating around Nashville busy working, being beautiful and brings joy to people.

Wu Fei 吴非

Wufeimusic.com

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Today, I saw two beautiful purple passionflowers during a morning hike in West Nashville (photos above). The colors and shapes of the blossoms were breathtaking. I learned that they only bloom for one day. I must have walked by at the perfect moment. How lucky was I!

The poet Chen Gongyi (1631–1700), from the late Ming Dynasty wrote:

“The Western Buddha has blue-lotus eyes;The Western passionflower is born of the blue lotus.”

原诗：陈恭尹《集长寿禅林咏西番莲花歌》——“西方佛有青莲眼，西番花有青莲产。”

In Buddhist art and scripture, 青莲眼 (blue lotus eye) refers to the eyes of a Buddha, symbolizing divine vision that sees all truths clearly.

Inspired by the flower’s beauty and its cultural tale, I improvised a guzheng solo today. I realized a couple of strings were slightly out of tune. I don’t mind it any more. I hope you don’t either. It’s quite nice to hear these imperfections in a recording nowadays. It feels real. Listening back, the music takes me right back to the experience that gave me those moments of instant clarity. Maybe I’ve gained a bit more of that divine vision. If not all truths, then at least I have gained a few more than I had this morning.

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

wufeimusic.bandcamp.com

Good morning, afternoon, and evening,

Right before I stepped into my studio today, I saw a beautiful katydid on the wall (photo above, wish I had a better camera :) I read that the rhythmic "katy-did, katy-didn't" call of the male is a summer night soundtrack, made by rubbing their wings together. This process is called stridulation. I immediately looked up what they sounded like on the internet. How fascinating are their songs! I had to make my version of their calls. Hope this three-track guzheng piece brings you a moment of fun energy!

Wu Fei 吴非

wufeimusic.com

wufeimusic.bandcamp.com

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

wufeimusic.com

wufeimusic.bandcamp.com

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

Wufeimusic.com

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

wufeimusic.com

wufeimusic.bandcamp.com

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

wufeimusic.com

Wufeimusic.bandcamp.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.

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

wufeimusic.com

wufeimusic.bancamp.com

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