Program Notes

The Classical Elements was inspired by the four Greek classical elements: water, air, fire, and earth. Each movement explores the unique characteristics of these elements. The water movement illustrates the flow of waves through compound meters (12/8 and 6/8), which mimic a triplet-like rhythm. The air movement centers around ascending and descending pentatonic scales, whose five-note structure reflects the lightness of wind. In the fire movement, the trombone’s glissandi capture the uprising of hot flames. Finally, the earth movement features a grounded walking tempo with steady quarter- and eighth-note rhythms to mimic footsteps. It also recalls material from the previous movements, symbolizing how all the classical elements coexist on planet Earth