HAN is a tribute to a fierce, principled, and exuberant spirit. The piece begins with music inspired by traditional Korean drumming and its ceremonial, communal energy. Woven into the piece is a quotation from the Black Eyed Peas’ 2009 song “Boom Boom Pow,” a playful reference to the vitality and humor at the heart of the work.

This rhythmic energy is interrupted by moments of stillness. Tuned pipes and water chimes open a more distant, contemplative space. Much of the piece grows from the contrast between these resonant sounds and the physical energy of the tom-toms.

HAN was written in memory of Catherine “Cathy” Han Montoya, my sister-in-law, whose sudden death was a profound loss. Cathy was half Korean and half Mexican. She was a gifted organizer and coalition builder who devoted her life to civil and human rights, immigrant rights, Asian American women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and racial justice. The piece draws specifically on her Korean heritage and her passion for Korean drumming. This felt like a natural point of departure for a percussion trio.

In the aftermath of her death, I designed and built the microtonally tuned pipes used in the piece. Designing, measuring, cutting, tuning, and assembling them became an unexpected part of the grieving process. Their fragile, raw sound soon became central to the work.

I did not try to create a complete portrait of Cathy. Instead, I wanted to preserve something of her courage, generosity, humor, and the force with which she moved through the world. HAN is both an expression of grief and a celebration of her life and the lasting effect she had on those who knew her.

—SC