John Cage

Prepared Piano Project

In 2022, Wenhao developed a keen interest in contemporary music, exploring works by Henry Cowell, John Cage, and George Crumb, with a particular fascination for Cage's prepared piano. His teacher, Dr. Jingbei Li, was preparing to record her first John Cage album and perform at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. She invited him to play Bacchanale and A Valentine Out of Season at that concert. 

Prepared piano pieces were originally created for dance, as Cage experimented with placing percussive elements inside the piano. For their concert, they invited six outstanding dancers to enhance the performance by bringing the music to life through their movements. Additionally, they held a lecture recital before the concert, allowing the audience to see behind-the-scenes preparations for the piano.