Sitting on the Clouds is a musical meditation inspired by the flight of migratory birds along Houston’s Central Flyway. From July to November, countless wings trace the Texas coastline—a natural, ancient journey that the piece echoes in its drift across the deep currents of memory, the breath of nature, and the whispers of dream. Rich with ethereal, bird-like sonorities, the music ascends beyond simple birdsong, weaving a shared space where human and avian spirits coexist in harmony. It offers stolen moments of quiet contemplation, recovering the natural rhythms often lost to modern noise.

Structured as a series of short movements and interludes, the piece opens with "Clouds, Birds, and the Old Lady" and "Through Her Eyes," inviting us to peer through her gaze and witness the birds—intimate, reflective, and infused with the sheer marvel of life. As the music flows, passing through the gentle hues of "Dusk," the vibrancy of "Dancing Through the Night," and the whirl of "All the Birds," tension gathers in "The Dark Clouds." This intensity then yields swiftly to a scherzo-like "Rain Dance," which delivers us to "Through the Moon," where the flocks cut silhouettes across the midnight sky. Finally, after the soft awakening of "Dawn," the journey culminates and settles in "Sitting on the Clouds"—a tranquil homecoming where memory, melody, and the vast expanse of the sky become one.

Sitting on the Clouds is written for the Formosa Quartet’s American Mirror Project with the support of the Houston Arts Alliance.