The Clouds [Akatonbo | Yuuyakekoyake] (2018)

Horn and marimba. 7' (alternate version for 4 1/3 marimba)

The Clouds depicts an emotional response to the scintillating artwork of Jacob Hashimoto. Using two Japanese folk songs – “Akatonbo” (“Red Dragonfly”) and “Yuuyakekoyake” (“Crimson Sunset”) – as the musical foundation, the composition seeks to suspend time in the way that delicate clouds are placed upon the air at sunset. This couples with the sense of yearning in the original songs, which convey the desire to return home amid the shifting red colors of sunset.

Performance History:

• ​27 September 2018, Crow Museum of Asian Art Reopening Ceremony, Dallas, TX. Spiral Staircase Duo: Eric Hessel, horn; Mai Tadokoro Hessel, marimba
  
• 28 September 2018, Austin College Craig Recital Hall, Sherman, TX. Spiral Staircase Duo
  
• recorded 7 October 2018, Northwest High School Black Box Theater, Justin, TX. Spiral Staircase Duo; Frank Gonzalez, recording engineer
  
• 20 January 2019, Dallas Japanese Association New Year’s Party, Plano, TX. Spiral Staircase Duo
  
• 8 March 2019, Ouachita Baptist University McBeth Recital Hall, Arkadelphia, AR. Spiral Staircase Duo
  
• 28 March 2019, University of North Texas Voertmann Hall, Denton, TX. Billy Holderby, horn; Bill Freeman, marimba.
  
• 12 September 2019, Texas Wesleyan University Martin Hall, Fort Worth, Texas. Spiral Staircase Duo.
  
• ​16 October 2019, Southwestern Oklahoma State University Berrong Music Hall, Weatherford, OK. Spiral Staircase Duo.
  

ERIC HESSEL