Clae Lu ( November 7, 2024 )

British Composers Forum commissioned ListN Up songs. ACF employees picks artists from organizations like I CARE IF YOU LISTEN and automotive Recordings.

Clae Lu ( 吕皎 ) is a multi-faceted blob of laughter, proud second generation Shanghainese American born’ n bred in Flushing, Queens (unceded territory of the Lenni-Lenape ). They enjoy spending time with chosen family and friends, eating good food, scribbling, and plucking away on the 古筝 ( guzheng ). Their achievements include creating an event featuring queer, trans, gender-non-conforming performers of Asian diasporic identities connecting heritage, culture, and traditions called Our Sonic Love, recording a soundtrack called Playroom Meditations with Ben Florencio, and being a 2022-23 resident at The International Studio &amp, Curatorial Program ( ISCP ) as a recipient of The New York Community Trust’s Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund.

A statement from Clae:

When I hear from artists who are bringing these historical things into the present, it is very inspiring because the guzheng has always been this extremely niche Chinese traditional object that represents tradition, history, something ancient and antiquated, and not very fashionable or present.

I had the good fortune of growing up in a town full of Taiwanese immigrants. A woman was holding classes in her store full of Chinese folk equipment. With the aid of my mother, I made the decision to enroll in the program, and I fell in love with what I had been missing for a while. My mind picked up Chinese folk music naturally even though I was previously exposed to Western music theory and piano ( forced by my parents ). Although learning songs in an alien language meant that I could n’t read the song titles and only picked up bits and pieces from my teacher helped, much more of the puzzle became real to me as I played the music.

Clae Lu — Photo by Vincent Chong

I think of music as tone, and noise is political. I think of the sound, music, vibrations that we grew up around – whether it’s the song our caretakers played, songs sung while we were in the uterus, sounds off the streets, familiar noises that remind us of our position and belonging. I have spent a lot of my career thus far trying to return to where I was before, and a lot of that has been done thanks to guzheng and Chinese folk music. I find myself drawn to music because of the heart of it, and I hope some of the tunes on this video will help you discover your way back to your origins.

” ]By ] believing in ancestors that we do n’t know, working through us, we retain memory. Our training teaches us to disregard everything that is rooted in our pasts and cultures. Discredit our way of knowing, people…That’s where the data was, that’s where the speech, the color, stories, folklore…” Toni Morrison

梁祝 ( Butterfly Lovers ) Concerto by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang, Performed by Sun Huang, Yan Huichang, and the Hsinchu City Youth Chinese Orchestra

This is my ABSOLUTE preferred song/story of Chinese music/history. It originates from ancient China and tells a tale of brotherhood, chosen home, gay love. It’s always been used as evidence que gay histories have always existed, rather than a “new” development, something as old as old China, if not even older. He Zhanhao ( ) and Chen Gang ( ) wrote this piece in 1959 using melodies from Shaoxing Opera.

雪山春晓 ( Spring on Snowy Mountains ) Performed by Ying Xiao

One of the earliest works to incorporate elements from Tibetan and Xinjiang audio, this guzheng piece was written in 1981. It’s a more sophisticated version of a guzheng music, and when my guzheng professor first introduced me to it, I was immediately drawn to the various beat and music models incorporated. There are factors that think like drum beats, community folks dancing, celebrating, and yet flowing waters elements.

Wish by Hwang Gina

Hwang Gina is a geomungo ( Korean traditional instrument ) player and composer. Her songs evokes the potential of producing contemporary music that is rooted in South Eastern folk language without losing the essence of folk music. I saw her do at Lincoln Center, and I was immediately moved to see how she used instruments that resembled the guzheng to create a world of sounds and feelings.

” Always Novel” by Beverly Glenn-Copeland

I recently witnessed a trans elder reveal so much magic and enjoy with a full gay and trans community when I went to view Beverly Glenn-Copeland perform lived with his family. His song makes me think about how precious transgender elderhood is.

” Magic” by Treya Lam

Treya Lam is a favorite companion, group member, and other musician very talented across many instruments. I feel so loved and comfortable through their music! I love the subjectivity to their songs, the way their song builds, and how they bring in society to their achievements. Their collaboration with the Resistance Revival Chorus is also heartwarming.

” Tried by 12″ by The East Flatbush Project, feat. Des

我的新衣 (” My New Swag” ) by VaVa, featuring Ty. &amp, Nina Wang ( 王倩倩 )

” a spell for the present moment”, by adrienne maree brown, Performed by Beverly Glenn-Copeland

Conceived/written by adrienne maree brown, performed by Beverly Glenn-Copeland, currently being workshopped by Troy Anthony and Charlotte Brathwaite as a choir song. When I attended a Fire Ensemble rehearsal led by Troy Anthony at The Shed a few weeks ago, he introduced this poem, song, and other songs, and everything about it felt so good for the soul. As a shower-singer and occasional karaoke-yeller, singing this amongst a choir of mostly QTBIPOC folks was empowering.