Composer, vocalist and guzheng player Wu Fei was a guest on Radio Heart yesterday. It was a real treat — she brought in a ton of live recordings for the show, both solo and in collaboration with musicians such as Fred Frith, Carla Kilhstedt, Billy Martin, to name a few. During the interview, she talked about her background and training. For years, she studied in more traditional music conservatories in Beijing and Texas, before going to Mills for graduate school. This was a formative experience for her, as she moved towards improv and more experimental forms. She also sang a 10 minute excerpt from the Peony Pavilion, a 16th century Chinese opera. The Peony Pavilion is an example of Kunqu, the oldest type of opera in China, and a form she’s currently studying in Beijing. I think Wu Fei’s take on the guzheng is totally unique and worth checking out, I can’t recommend this show more!
Read the full playlist here.
Listen to the show here.
