for solo piano

~ 8 min

Cloud Forests is inspired by a hike in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s Eagle Cap Wilderness.

A two-hour drive from my home, the Wallowas are the closest mountain range with alpine ecosystems, including pristine glacial lakes. They are just out-of-the-way enough to attract mostly local outdoor enthusiasts; a gem tucked away in Oregon’s Northeast corner.

Hiking up Maxwell Lake Trail in late October, I experienced a full range of mountain weather: rain, hail, snow, and sun. The clouds swirled and at times obscured the mountain peaks, as the fall foliage swayed in the wind.

Musically, Cloud Forests depicts my experience in the mountains as short, inter-related sections. Just as weather changes quickly in the high country, the sections unfold in quick succession––the various microclimates parading by, as we ascend higher.