This work grew from reflections on the seasons and the passage of time, drawing on field recordings of flora and fauna captured across the United States and during my travels abroad. Each movement (performed attacca) features sounds tied to a specific part of the year: the songs of spring and summer birds and the natural soundscapes of autumn and winter, including amplified snowfall and rainstorms. The lyrical and percussive qualities of the cello follow these seasonal shifts, tracing a journey from spring’s awakening to summer’s brightness, through a tempestuous autumn, and into the stillness of winter.
This work was written for Oona Lowther, in a spirit of trans-Atlantic collaboration, and a continuing love for works that expand the musical affordances of acoustic instruments through electronics.
A very special thanks to cellist Hannah Stone for workshopping this piece.