The concept for this composition emerged from a conversation with Kay Olan, a celebrated Mohawk storyteller, teacher, and writer. During our discussion, Olan shared insights from the world’s creation story, emphasizing the people’s gratitude for the bounty of Earth and Water. She beautifully described Earth as our mother and Water as its lifeblood—an image that profoundly inspired this composition.
The narrative unfolds through multiple layers, beginning with the composer sketching a work-in-progress in real-time, providing a meta-narrative that frames the dialogue. The piece’s core is a conversation between personified Earth and Water. Earth is portrayed as cautious and worried, while Water appears more adaptable yet vulnerable. Their interaction explores environmental change, human progress, and the delicate balance between nature and humanity. Periodically, the composer interjects, contemplating the next steps in the composition. These moments offer a reflection on the themes and the creative process itself.
The Erie Canal is the backdrop for this dialogue. The piece navigates the complex relationship between progress and environmental preservation and the long-term consequences of our actions on the landscape. Earth and Water, with their distinct personalities and perspectives, convey both the historical context and the environmental concerns surrounding the canal’s construction and legacy.