My Portfolio
Welcome to my portfolio. Here you’ll find a selection of my work. Explore my projects to learn more about what I do.
Original Compositions
01 锦瑟
This is my debut songwriting piece, where I crafted both the melody and piano accompaniment. The song is inspired by the Tang Dynasty poem Jin Se (锦瑟) by Li Shangyin (李商隐). The verses of my composition feature the complete poem, while the chorus contains original lyrics I wrote to express a personal interpretation of the poet’s longing and nostalgia for lost love and youth.
Musical Style and Innovations
In this piece, I integrate traditional Chinese musical elements with contemporary influences. The melody follows the pentatonic scale, a hallmark of Chinese folk music, while modern harmonies enhance its emotional depth. The prelude features vibrato-like embellishments that emulate the sound of a traditional Chinese harp. For the finale, I transition from an A minor triad to an A major chord with a raised do, shifting the mood from melancholy to a subtle sense of hope and renewal.
This work reflects my passion for combining ancient poetry and cultural heritage with modern composition techniques, creating a bridge between tradition and contemporary artistry.
02 黎家姑娘
黎家姑娘 (Li Girl) is a cross-cultural musical piece inspired by the rich musical heritage of the Li ethnic group from Hainan, China. At the beginning of this composition is a folk song, 木棉花之恋 (The Love of Kapok Flowers), which I encountered during my field research in a Li village. Sung by a local girl, this traditional melody conveys themes of love and longing, with the kapok flower serving as a symbolic vessel for deep emotions.
Through this composition, I aim to explore the fluidity of cultural identity and the evolving nature of musical traditions. By blending folk elements with modern instrumentation, 黎家姑娘 serves as both a tribute to Li musical heritage and a reimagination of its possibilities in a contemporary context.
Musical Style and Innovations
The main melody of my composition is derived from another tune I heard during my fieldwork. I preserved its original rhythm and highlighted its natural beauty by keeping the harmony relatively simple, allowing the melody to shine in its most authentic form.
In crafting this piece, I sought to honor the authenticity of Li ethnic music while integrating contemporary elements to create a dialogue between tradition and modernity. I incorporated the timbre of Bi Di (鼻笛, nose flute), a distinctive Li ethnic instrument, alongside traditional Chinese instruments. These sonorities intertwine with Western orchestral elements, such as string harmonies, and electronic sound effects, creating a fusion of East and West.
03 五指山记忆
五指山记忆 (Memory of Wuzhi Mountain) is inspired by the Li ethnic folk song 五指山歌 (Song of Wuzhi Mountain), a piece that carries deep historical significance. The original lyrics reference the five rivers flowing from Wuzhi Mountain, metaphorically narrating the shifting tides of history. They tell of wartime struggles, conveying the resilience and transformation of an era. Traditionally, 五指山歌 is performed with a bold, spirited energy, celebrating victory and change.
Musical Style and Innovations
In my composition, I chose to feature the main melody of the original folk song and reimagine the piece through a different lens. Rather than preserving its original exuberance, I reshaped the atmosphere, evoking a sense of distance and dreamlike reflection. The piece begins with the ethereal timbre of the flute, creating a hazy, almost elusive soundscape—like memories surfacing from the depths of time. As the piece unfolds, the tempo accelerates, momentarily pulling the listener into a vivid, almost surreal vision of history.
Unlike the original’s straightforward harmonic structure, I introduced complex harmonies and an array of minor chords to infuse the piece with nostalgia and introspection. The use of modern instruments mimicking the textures of traditional Li music adds another layer of meaning—as if we are recounting history and contemplating its echoes in the present.
04 City Noon
This piece is a jazz instrumental with a touch of bossa nova, blending rhythmic elegance with the ambient soundscape of everyday life. Built upon the gentle sway of bossa nova drum patterns, the composition evokes a sense of ease and fluidity, inviting the listener into a moment of quiet reflection.
What makes this piece unique is its deep connection to place—I incorporated field recordings from the Boston University campus, capturing the subtle yet intricate layers of urban life. The rustling of fallen leaves, the murmur of passing crowds, and the rhythmic hum of the shuttle bus are interwoven into the music, transforming ordinary sounds into part of the composition’s texture. These sonic fragments serve as both a backdrop and an instrument, blurring the line between structured music and organic sound.