volatile horizon
for electric guitar, bass clarinet, bass flute, viola, electronics, & lighting
2023
this piece is inspired by the devastating beauty of nacreous clouds. these clouds are both very rare and hauntingly beautiful, with luminous pastel colors streaking across the sky.
despite their beauty, these clouds are irrevocably harmful to the atmosphere. while their beauty comes from the diffraction of light as it passes through tiny ice crystals in the air, their appearance acts as a catalyst for the reactions of toxic chemicals that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to the ozone hole in the antarctic.
this piece is a meditation on the beauty and destruction of the world we’re making.
+++
premiered by collective lovemusic at Paine Hall at Harvard University April 28, 2023
+++
