This piece is about seismic forces: the energy that causes earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, geysers, and hot springs. The opening motives in the brass and timpani represent this energy, perhaps in the form of lava, swirling and bubbling below the surface of the earth. It is present throughout the piece, sometimes an undercurrent to lively activity, sometimes a distant echo in an otherwise serene landscape. Like the forces they represent, these motives command our attention when they are most disruptive, but they can cause startling outcomes even when we fail to notice them.
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