Musubi is a foundational concept in the Shinto religion, which has manifold and nuanced meaning– it means literally “to tie together,” but is used to describe the process of creation, birth, and becoming, as well as the interconnectedness of all things, and what many of us may recognize as fate and providence. The music’s connection to this concept is quite general, more of one individual’s (in this case, a solo clarinet) reflections on the interconnectedness of us to each other, to nature, to God. The piece often alternates between long searching lines and weightless dances. The third movement, “spindles and looms,” is a perpetual spinning of threads which seamlessly shift in color as they exit the spindles. The final movement, “burst,” evokes the moment a new creation is brought into existence. I encourage listeners to bring their own stories to the music, perhaps reflecting on the people who have changed the course of their life, who came at just the right time, or maybe have always been there.