This work was commissioned by the Phoenix Concerts of New York State Council. I clarified that I tend to provide sensation, instead of telling a story under the frame of the “Folk Tale Project”. It’s the sensation of a traveller, a stranger, geographical, temporal or cultural, while he/she reaches a new spot just with his/her memories, knowledges and songs. The work Five Folk Songs is about exploration and integration.  

Folk song is just like the goblet. Every time it is refilled, the fragrance of wine is different. From the goblet she drinks Muscat. Happy or sad in her heart fulfilled? It is also variant. 

The Five Folk Songs could be listened to paradigmatically. You may notice that essentially the Folk Songs are like the wine bottles, Bartok, Brahms, Berio…, composers pour their thinking and consciousness into. 

(SHEN Ye)