David Leisner

Vapors

The two-movement VAPORS was composed in 2008-09; inspired by the composer's visit to artist Constance DeJong's studio. Leisner was moved by her large two-paneled Nitrate Painting XVI; and he has written: 'You can feel enveloped by it and meditatively immersed in its cloudy or watery atmosphere; depending on how you see it. The more I looked at it; the more it gave me a similar feeling to watching a snowfall in which the snowflakes appear to be falling and rising at the same time. The first movement; Falling; came out of this sensation. Later; when I decided to add a second movement; Floating; I turned the work on its side in my imagination; and now saw a broad expanse of clouds or ocean; with spatial depth that was accompanied by a sense of depth of time. This image spawned the second movement.'