I. Growth
II. Swelling
III. Dampening
IV. Harvest
V. Retreat
Phases is a five-movement chamber work inspired by the cyclical and interdependent nature of the five natural elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each movement explores not only the unique sonic qualities of its corresponding element but also its place within a continuous, evolving cycle. Rather than existing in isolation, the elements flow into one another, suggesting a world in which transformation is constant and balance is vital.
The first movement, Wood, begins with restless upward gestures and organic, pulsing rhythms that evoke growth, tension, and renewal. It sets the cycle in motion with a sense of reaching and expansion. Fire follows with volatile energy and sudden bursts of color—shimmering textures in the flute and crackling rhythmic interplay convey both destruction and illumination. From the ashes of Fire emerges Earth, a grounding and meditative movement that centers the trio in warmth and stability.
In Metal, clarity and precision take hold. This movement is sharper and more austere, using resonance and silence as compositional tools. The metallic edge of the piano and the cello’s harmonies lend an air of refinement and cool strength. Finally, Water brings fluidity and reflection. Melodic lines dissolve into one another, and the boundaries between instruments blur, suggesting motion, memory, and the return to origin. As Water flows, it begins to nourish Wood once more—completing the elemental cycle.
Phases invites the listener to consider change not as rupture but as continuity—a natural progression where each phase feeds the next, and where creation and dissolution are part of the same unfolding story.
