Composed: 1995
Premiered: 1996
Duration: 11 minutes

Air is a love letter to the violin. Songlike and lyrical, it opens up a full range of the instrument’s expressive and poignant possibilities. Composed with two main themes and open in harmony, the first poses melodic questions and their response, while the second is very still, rising ever-upward into the highest range of the violin. Following a middle section of dramatic intensity, it cycles back to the themes in reverse, developing each along the way, and ending quietly after a final plaintive ascent. Air is dedicated to pianist Evelyne Luest, the composer’s wife, and was composed in 1995 for violinist Joshua Bell. Since its, premiere it has been arranged in many versions with solo instrument and orchestra, chamber ensemble, or piano.

Program note by Aaron Jay Kernis.