Concert Statement

The program for Earthing: A Dialog on the Edge of Sane brings together works that echo the resilience of composers who have confronted profound personal and societal challenges. Each piece in this recital was chosen to reflect a journey of inner strength, endurance, and healing, particularly among Asian composers who transformed their struggles into evocative music.

Toru Takemitsu’s Elegy, written two decades after World War II, reflects Japan’s period of rebuilding and recovery. Rather than embodying collective grief directly, the piece implies the possibility of resilience within the Japanese people, suggesting how music can echo the spirit of those who endure and adapt in the face of devastation. Similarly,

Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Sonata, Op. 134 captures the exiled spirit of the Slavic people, as the composer navigated life under censorship and mental struggle. This work bears witness to his inner conflict, marked by defiance and survival within an oppressive regime.

Shiuan Chang’s Songs of Dunren, commissioned by Dunren Hospital and its founder, Yen-Chung Hu, offers comfort through music. These pieces accompany patients through their daily routines, replacing the hospital’s bells and announcements with melodies that gently guide and reassure. Inspired by Chang’s own experience with a severe panic attack, Songs of Dunren documents his journey of self-healing and reconstruction, extending solace to those in recovery.

Together, these works create a powerful concert experience. They guide listeners through a landscape of resilience, healing, and quiet strength, demonstrating how art can help us feel grounded and connected in our most vulnerable moments.