I. Wind in the Creosote

II. Ghosts of Water

III. White Sands

Ever since I was born, at least once a year my dad and I fly down to Las Cruces, New Mexico to visit my grandma and my uncle. They live right on the edge of town, where one can just climb over the garden wall into the sand and walk for miles. This desert is at the base of the Organ Mountains, whose rocky spires are both intimidating and beautiful. It is easy to think that there is little life in such a barren and dry climate. It is astonishing how busy desert life can be, from the cackling of burrowing owls to the fidgeting of lizards, the wind in the creosote, and the howling in the canyons. When it rains, the water pools in the granite stones, soon to evaporate and leave a ghost of water. The dunes of White Sands National Park exist as an endless landscape of white crystals that glitter in the sun, stretching farther than you can see. The wind rustles through the Creosote bushes, making a rushing sound that gives one a sense of both urgency and peace. I created this piece of music with these images in mind, hoping to convey the beauty that is different from Montana, but just as important to notice.