Program Notes

Vernal pools are fleeting, shallow body of water which come to life during the spring rains, and vanish with the summer heat. This process creates a gentle ebb and flow of the cycle of life in the areas surrounding a vernal pool. On The Ephemeral Nature Of Vernal Pools explores this seasonal cycle through the slow evolution of musical textures.

The structure of this work mirrors that of the vernal pool’s seasonal lifecycle: emerging in the spring, becoming a safe haven for endemic species, and teaming with hatchlings of frogs and newts, before moving towards its gradual dissolution in the summer warmth before repeating the cycle once again.

What captivates me the most about vernal pools is the security they offer endemic species against invaders. The creatures that depend on these pools have adapted to thrive in an environment without a permanent water source, making it difficult for nonindigenous species to outcompete them. This makes areas with vernal pools resilient against invasive species. However, human interference strained these delicate ecosystems. Pollution and changes in hydrology due to climate change pose a serious threat, and have already resulted to a loss of 90% of vernal pools in California alone.