“Nestled along the Colorado River a few miles north of Moab, Utah, an expanse of striking geological formations remain from when an ancient sea deposited a salt bed. During the process in which that ancient sea eaporated and became replaced by stratified younger rock, the spires, arches, and monoliths of Arches National Park were formed through both wind and water erosion.

300 million years later, more than 2 million people make the pilgrimage to Arches National Park to observe these geological features in person. Equally a meditation on the formation process for Arches National Park and a depiction of a day out hiking among the ancient monuments, Carving Arches is a peaceful work for alto flute and bassoon that captures the natural beauty of the United States of America.”

(Notes by Kincaid Rabb)