Hello intrepid music-lovers!

Today I talk about a wonderful piece of music produced by that exquisite music production company: “Two Steps From Hell.”

“Cloud Maker” is a short but poignant piece that is two minutes and thirty-one seconds long. The piece opens with a virtuoso aria accompanied by synthesizer-produced harmonies including a droning bass. The strings begin their chorus at 0:23 echoing the melody the singer began. Shortly before this the flute joins at the 0:22 mark ushering in a whimsical harmony of curiosity. The stings weave a melody akin to the feelings of trial and triumph. By 1:09 a huge crescendo begins, which incorporates the background synthesizer harmonies. This crescendo reaches its max at 1:45. The singer resumes her chant at this point. Her voice echoes with hope, joy and sadness. By 2:16 the decrescendo begins and fades gradually.

“Cloud Maker” sounds like a eulogy. The vocals are proudly loud and yet rife with variation like a sad speech. The ever-present synthesized harmony create a sense of the song that is unchanging (much like “Bolero” by Maurice Ravel. I relate this harmony to a feeling of pain that reminds us ‘life goes on’ despite whatever joy or sorrow we encounter each day: life goes on. I think the flutes personify the sense of childlike innocence that dwells in each of us. The strings’ themes are much like the daily swell of changing emotions we experience; waxing and waning like the roaring tides: hope, despair, passion and indifference.

This makes me remember that my own journey is stormy and changing like the weather. But, when all is said and done and clouds have changed, rained or formed…I still have the sky. It will always be there.

I wonder if this piece was really written about cloud-watching. Maybe the change of emotions sitting above the unchanging undercurrent represents the weather and the sky…

Whatever my musings may be…”Cloud Maker” truly is a beautiful musical work of art.

Thanks for reading.