Clouds are the Language of the Sky

Instrumentation: Soprano & Piano*
Duration: 12 minutes
Year: 2022

Program Notes

Set in seven movements, my song cycle “Clouds are the Language of the Sky” weaves the poetry of Edith Yang Qing with music for soprano and piano. In it, the poem evokes seven different states and personifies the clouds through richly expressive vocabulary. The poems are impressionistic yet full of personality and my music seeks to convey and amplify these poetic impulses in a contemporary tonal language.

The piece was commissioned by pianist Jialiang Zhu and was made possible by the generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts.

*An orchestrated version of the songs can also be obtained by contacting the composer*

Performance History

January 15, 2023
Jialiang Zhu & Emily Lapin
Infiniti Music Hall, Markham
ON, Canada
May 14, 2023
Jialiang Zhu & Emily Lapin
St. Christopher Anglican Church
Burlington, ON, Canada
May 19, 2023
Jialiang Zhu & Emily Lapin
Canadian Music Center
Toronto, ON, Canada