A cairn is a collection of stones on a trail that point the direction in which to go. In turn, these works are somewhat autobiographical, in that they track aesthetic change and growth over time.
Each cairn is composed of two movements. Each first movement is composed of a single line in parallel ninths (major, minor, or a combination of the two). The sustain pedal is held down for the entirety of these movement(s). Each second movement explores resonances or sympathetic vibrations in the piano, or another extended technique. Through this contrast, I hope to find a fuller understanding of the piano as an open soundboard with resonance and sustain, rather than as a mere collection of buttons arranged in equal temperament.
A recording of this piece will hopefully be released soon. Text for the second movement is from "Notes on the Cinematograph" and "Au Hasard Balthazar" by Robert Bresson.
