Program Notes

The Mechanics of Midwestern Tornados delves into the excruciating experience of living through a tornado warning. Inspired by the disastrous events of May 22nd, 2011, when a tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, leaving a trail of devastation totaling $2.8 billion in damages and ending 161 lives, this piece reflects on my own upbringing in Missouri, and the omnipresent threat of tornados during the summer months.

Living in Kansas City, well within the bounds of tornado alley, I know the visceral fear caused by the wailing of tornado sirens. This piece captures the heightened anxiety that arises when these fears become a reality, specifically recalling one particular night. My brother and I spoke on the phone with our mom as she worked the radar at a nearby airport, watching helplessly from many miles away as a wall cloud (a precursor to a tornado) formed just a few hundred feet away from our house. Luckily, this eminent warning sign never formed into a true tornado, but this still stands as one of the most terrifying moments of my life.

This piece serves as a musical portrait, weaving together fragmented memories of that fateful night with gestures meticulously crafted using the Enhanced Fujita scale ratings of the most powerful Missourian tornados each year since my birth. Through its evocative soundscape and introspective storytelling, this work invites listeners to reflect on the raw and unyielding power of nature, while offering a glimpse into my Midwestern upbringing.