While considering possibilities for fulfilling the VCME’s woodwind commission I happened upon reproductions of two famous paintings: The Mountain (Summertime), by Balthus, and Melancholy and Mystery of a Street, by De Chirico. The haunting treatment of shadows in these paintings was suggestive, leading me to a general musical conception of this piece. Ultimately, literary as well as visual shadow-symbol phantasmagoria inspired musical content, even encouraging my choice of instrumentation: two flutes doubling piccolo and bass flute, two clarinets-doubling bass clarinet, and two bassoons.