The piece was inspired by an interest of mine in snow and ice formations.
Firn is old snow that has been recrystalized into a more dense
substance, approaching (but is not yet) pure ice. Firn is created by
snowflakes that are compressed under the weight of the overlying
snowpack. Though it takes only a season for firn to form, the complete
transition to ice may take many more. The physical blunting and
melting processes continue, making the grains denser and larger until
they freeze together along with small air bubbles. The whole process
can take as long as a thousand years or as short as a single season.
I find this and other glacial processes rather fascinating and I
sought to apply this idea musically. Like the processes of the snow,
the music fluctuates in density and speed. The two chords at the
opening embody the elemental structure of the piece, which is
continually reasserted and examined from a different aural
perspective, despite various other musical gestures and
transformations.
