I wrote hush during a time when I wanted nothing more than a hug. The uncannily saccharine sounds of the piece are meant to surround and envelop the listener as similar to how an infant might be swaddled when held in their mother’s arms. The piece is scored for two microtonal pianos using alternate tuning systems reminiscent of a music box. Over time, the tuning is further warped, creating a haunting and unearthly emotional effect. Though lullabies are generally used to soothe a child to sleep, they are often even more meaningful for the mother who sings them, and the lyrical content of many historical lullabies is dark and lamentful. hush tries to capture this duality, portraying the sweet, yet eerie nostalgia of childhood.
Audio recording:
January 28th, 2020
Tuesdays at Monk Space Season Concert: 20/20 Visions
Featuring new works for microtonal keyboards
Monk Space, Los Angeles, California
Tickets: $25 (general admission) or $15 (students) – purchase here
February 29th, 2020
Beyond 2020: Microtonal Music Festival
Performed by the Ray-Kallay Duo
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
March 10th, 2020
Nina Shekhar: Master’s Recital
Performed by Nina Shekhar
Joyce J. Cammilleri Hall (Brain and Creativity Institute), University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
September 10th, 2021
“Weird Aftertaste” series concert
Performed by the b-l duo (Bertram Wee & Lynette Yeo)
The Arts House (Blue Room), Singapore
November 12th, 2022 (solo harp version premiere)
Juilliard Pre-College Faculty Recital: Preparatory Division Commissioning Initiative
Performed by June Han
The Juilliard School (Paul Hall), New York, NY
