Rican Lee's Comments

I am wondering...especially because I can't find anybody else mentioning this...why there is what sounds like repetitive chewing/crunching (or more likely (?) footsteps in gravel) in the background (in places--usually near the end) of I, II, V, VI in "Journey to Serious." Also, there's what sounds like someone walking knee-deep in water in "III." In "IV," there is walking (down a hall, up stairs, across a large empty room?).

There are other sounds in other pieces, but do I need to go into them all?

I like the music, but find the inexplicable nature of the background sounds very distracting (obviously, because I'm going on at length here about them)--which then causes me to lose focus on the music itself. (I find myself wondering, also, if there's a clue in the title, "Journey to Serious," and that the background noises are part of your expression of your lack of seriousness. Which is also distracting, because it completely ignores the music.)

What am I missing? I would like to appreciate these pieces for what they are, but until I know whether or not the background noises are intentional, I can't. Mainly, I can't justify them in terms of the title, which is where I am stuck.

Help me, so I can get back to listening to these as they are intended (with or without the background sounds).

I rather disappeared off the map as of the end of March 2010! (Hence my long delay in replying.) I can't believe I've been away that long. Thank you for listening! And thank you for your appreciation.