Journal — Tong Wang

The first day I arrived back at Orford, I was practicing the second movement of this sonata late in the evening, exhausted by all the challenges that have been overwhelming me these past few weeks, and suddenly I began to feel myself tearing up ... which happens often when I’m working on in incredible music like this. But this time, as I went on repeating that section where the main theme returns, I just allowed the raw emotions to take over, and soon I was crying uncontrollably. It felt almost indulgent, to just let myself weep like that as I kept playing. At a certain point, my fingers came to a standstill, but I still couldn’t stop the tears, so I just sat there in the silence, sobbing until I drained out all those emotions.

reflections, musicTong WangAugust 15, 2019piano, live performance, solo piano

It’s not about being perfect …

It’s not about being perfect. It’s that we are real, sincere, spontaneous. Take risks and commit to our beliefs, take confidence in our ideas and embrace our strengths and limitations. Find joy and excitement in the unknown, unexpected, unpredictable.

music, reflectionsTong WangJuly 2, 2019piano, live performance

The Japanese Lover, Isabel Allende

"Happiness is not exuberant or noisy, like pleasure or joy; it's silent, tranquil, and gentle; it's a feeling of satisfaction inside that begins with self-love."

quotes, reflectionsTong WangJanuary 12, 2017the japanese lover, Isabel Allende, quotes, book, airdrie, snow, winter Comments

New sketch - Camino Cielo

Finally finished this sketch! Started the outline back in December but the challenge to portray the grandeur of this view from 3000 feet high was just too daunting. The magnificent mountain range, the tiny city of Santa Barbara in the distance, the Pacific ocean, ...the wisp of clouds streaming across the sky, like wings. Camino Cielo, "Road to Heaven". It really did feel like we were standing on top of the world. I still remember so vividly.

art, quotes, reflectionsTong WangJune 17, 2016sketch, don draper, quote, santa barbara, pencil, camino cielo, ocean, nostalgiaComment

Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet

This recording is from a live performance at Leipzig's Mendelssohn Academy in the summer of 2014. A piece very special to me. I first heard the NEC Symphony play this suite during my freshman year, and I fell in love with it right away. I learned the solo piano version and have since then, throughout my undergrad years, grown with the music through many, many experiences (both musically and personally).