Kīpuka (2024)
for oboe and string quartet
duration: 15 minutes
Program Notes
A kīpuka is a piece of land that is spared after a lava flow, where ecosystems persist and renewal begins. After the destruction, these refuges serve as vital sources of biodiversity and resilience. The first movement, “A Tree Still Stands,” draws on the metaphor of kīpuka to reflect on the Lahaina Banyan Tree, which endured the devastating fires of 2023. The second movement, “From Refuge to Abundance” represents the hope that that abundance can take root even after a devastation.
The Creation of Kīpuka was supported by The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.