Clouds, Ephemeral

Clouds Ephemeral was commissioned by The Esoterics, with founding director Eric Banks. It is a result of winning their 2014-2015 POLYPHONOS Composition Competition in the National Composer category. Like clouds, the harmony in Clouds Ephemeral shifts in and out of clear forms, simultaneously in constant motion yet almost still. The rhythm also embodies this nebulous quality, constantly changing meter throughout most of the piece. It sets three texts—scientific names of clouds are heard throughout, while cloud definitions layer underneath, chant-like in the men. An original poem layers over the cloud names, in a slow, graceful melody sung by the women.