MUTED

Asians lack presence. Asians take up apologetic space. We don’t even have enough presence to be considered real minorities. We’re not racial enough to be token. We’re so post-racial we’re silicon. - Cathy Park Hong, from Minor Feelings

I moved to the United States in 2004. Since then, I have transitioned from a graduate student to a professional performer and faculty member at a university. Although I went through different phases in life, I have always been seen as an Asian woman. What American society sees in me has not changed. I was a stereotypical Asian woman, and I am a stereotypical Asian woman – subdued and demure, in other words, “muted.” I am a muted person without vivid colors. Naturally, a muted person’s voice wouldn’t be heard. My voice is muted.

The muted piano sound is not a representation of traditional piano sound. Piano has been compared with an orchestra. Piano offers virtuosity, brilliance, sensitivity, seven-octave ranges, rich colors, thick and massive chords, and multiple voices. Muffled(muted) sound was not associated with the characteristics of a piano. However, muting strings turns the piano into a different animal. Piano becomes a percussion instrument, and, at the same time, it becomes a string instrument. It generates harmonics. It produces timbres that mimic percussion. The mix of muted and unmuted sounds gives a stark contrast and even whimsy. Playing inside of piano does not make the immense volume. Muted notes will be soft, just like my own voice.

I want to explore the muted piano sound. I want to express myself as a performer and person through muted notes that are quiet, muffled, and unbrilliant.

MUTED was supported by New Music USA’s Creator Fund with support in part from the Howard Gilman Foundation, The Cheswatyr Foundation, The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund, and the BMI Foundation. Support for New York-based artists is provided by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and/or the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Support for the Creator Fund is also provided by contributions from the New Music USA endowment.

Composers & Works:

Reflections by Anruo Cheng

Approaching somber waves by Chen-Hui Jen

Me-Ah-ri by Grace Ann Lee

Performances:

Illinois State University

중력장, Seoul

University of Miami

Bowling Green State University

Ball State University

CAMPGround (2025 January)

영월국제음악제, Korea (2025)