for string quartet

Orchestration
violin, violin, viola, cello

Duration
7 minutes

Premiere
Premiered by JACK Quartet at the New Music on the Point festival, June 2023.

Program Note
I immediately connected with the writing of Ursula K. Le Guin when reading The Beginning Place. She is able to craft scenes and environments that so beautifully connect with the characters' emotional states and experiences. For this work, I was taken aback by this simple metaphor that became the work's title. How refreshing the clear cool water of a small stream can be. From a mental space that is contained, stagnant, and clouded, to one of light, openness, and is limitless. Taking the time to be present in the world, engage with what is there. The traps of our minds, or our situations, can be overwhelming. Sometimes, we are simply too close to see the answer. But, it’s ok to stop by the stream, cup your hands, and be refreshed by what it has to offer.