Journal — Tong Wang

“Inside Beethoven’s Hearing Machine”, Immortal Tenderness

I was just walking to the institute, a cloudy damp cold day as it has been all week. And suddenly thinking about these experiences, feelings, questions - it made me tear up and full of that tingly sensation throughout my body. As ridiculous and crazy as it sounds, as if I was finally beginning to understand some part of Beethoven’s spirit. This embodiment of his being. And just how miraculous is that. Across 200 years of time and space, we can find understanding with someone. To share their pains and joys. To still discover and have this conversation. To experience that immortal depth of love he was trying to communicate and send into the universe. And here I am, humbly able to receive some tiny part of it. Moved to tears. Just walking along the Gent streets, feeling silly but not really caring how cheesy this might be. Research, intellect, ideas, experiments, all taken into account, I take sincerity in just being this deeply feeling human being. And now blessed it is I found some part of Beethoven. What a privilege it’s been to be here and take a part of these ideas and technologies to gain this new depth of insight.

Tong WangSeptember 2, 2021Comment

"Always With Me" - Chihiro's Rhapsody, GHIBLILANE, dear memories~

It’s a blessed feeling, for the intentions to carry through.

For the detailed care, thought, attention, planning, hard work, passion, imagination, hopes invested into something to translate into something almost graspable. For the honest sentiments to transmit, to reach someone.

That warmth that is contagious.

The voices we heard, the connections we made, the heartfelt, wholesome space we created together. It was everything we dreamed of. Or at least, the beginning of ever more magical, daring dreams. Intimate, sincere, endearing, and profoundly touching.

Tong WangApril 24, 2021ghibliComment

"If I've Been Enveloped in Tenderness" - Kiki's Wish

When I was small there were gods
And they granted my wish in mysterious ways.
On mornings when you wake up feeling at ease
Miracles happen even when you grow up.

Tong WangApril 6, 2021ghibliComment

Snow White, finding magic...

Not everyday we feel things, but it’s okay.

I still believe in magic and I love fairy tales.

How do we play music when we feel depressed and empty? Not sure. Sometimes the music reminds something within us, I hope. I hope something sparkles. I hope we notice the sparkles. Here are some glittering Disney tunes and derpy dwarfs.

“Snow White” transcription by Earl Wild

Tong WangMarch 11, 2021pumpkinComment

Special times call for special music - Lunenburg 2020

We found so many parts of ourselves as people and artists through exploring this program. We grew so immensely from this experience at LAMP. We were perhaps able to make some tiny impact, and continue on believing we can still strive to do more, do better.

This month in Lunenburg, the memories, the music, the friendships - I will all hold so close to my heart. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of working your hardest, the unique thrill of hiking up and down that hill twice a day, early at 6am to make breakfast and start rehearsing, late at night 10pm back to the Topmast hotel and never failing to be blown away by the milky way and incredible stars surrounding us … the countless times we tried going out to celebrate after each concert and instead had an even homier party at the Academy with our strange feast of instant noodles and burnt rice, the intense rehearsals and recording/listening sessions, the sight-reading and paper cranes folding session, the greetings with locals on the streets and every Thursday morning at the market, saying Thank You, Thank You for showing up, Thank You for listening.

Tong WangOctober 28, 2020Comment