This collection of piano solo pieces are inspired by Taiwanese folk songs. Growing up listening to the various arrangements of the songs, I used to think of these old melodies as outdated, unsophisticated and uninteresting. But after living abroad for so many years, I begin to appreciate their simplicity and the fascinating history associated with each one of them. It was with a feeling of nostalgia, as well as pride, that I composed the pieces in this collection.

Each piece is written with one or more pedagogical focuses—to master a piano technique, to learn about a musical style, or both. The folk tunes are sometimes quoted in their entirety, or are arranged freely as a fantasy or variations. The collection serves as a book of etudes as well as a supplementary repertoire book for late intermediate to early advanced students. Through the music, the students will learn about techniques and styles, as well as gain some understanding of a culture that they might have been unfamiliar with previously.

Review on The Piano Magazine, Summer 2021: