Adams, T.-Clouds of KR-V/prerecorded sounds

“When I walk in the woods, oftentimes I remember that Native Americans once owned and lived on the very ground on which I stand. Since the day explorers landed on American soil and “Discovered” the land that the Native Americans inhabited, the demise of these proud and noble people started at the arrival of the Europeans and continues to this day.

The thought that continued to haunt me as I strolled on my walk was what the children must have felt growing up in an environment of natural beauty and the constant fear of losing their families at any moment. In order to make sense of this realization, I decided to write about it.

The vibraphone solo is the child’s day to day thoughts. Playing with friends, the sudden sound of gunfire, fathers, uncles, brothers, grandfathers, going off to fight, some coming back, some not. The uncertainty of their house and land being destroyed, babies being born, people getting married. All of these thoughts could come at any time throughout the child’s life. This solo deals with all of these emotions at once. The audio is the narrative of the journey. Nature sounds, gunfire, battle sounds, cavalry sounds, peace, and destruction.

The piece is performed freely because out thoughts are not rhythmic or organized. They come when they come. This composition is an offering for us to do better, be far more compassionate, and have the courage to do good. Experience, “The Clouds of KR: a Native Child’s Dream of Peace”

- Timothy Adams Jr.

• Number of players: 1
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Instrumentation: Vibraphone, prerecorded sounds