Symphony of the Hawai‘i Forests: Reflections on Ka Wai Ke Kumu Ola (2023) Full orchestraTear of the Clouds (2022)
for flute, clarinet, bassoon, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, 1 bass
duration: 18 minutes
Program Notes
Lake Tear of the Clouds is a small lake located on the slopes of Mount Marcy in Upstate New York. It is often cited as the highest source of the Hudson River. This piece traces the Hudson from the river's origins as a true mountain stream fed by the pristine water from the snow melt that feeds the Lake Tears of the Clouds, through the confluences of canals and rivers connecting Lake Champlain, Mohawk River, and the Erie Canal that created new corridors for people, industries, invasive species, and pollutants, all the way down to the mouth of the river that is New York Harbor.
The river changes significantly throughout its journey down to New York Harbor, and the music similarly changes drastically throughout. However, there remains a kernel of musical idea that remains constant throughout the piece despite the various different contexts.
This work was commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University for the Albany Symphony Orchestra.