Composed for Shauna Thompson and Janet Pummill, ‘Force of Nature’ is a three-movement sonata for flute and piano that considers natural forces that are unseen, but whose powerful effects are nonetheless evident. In the first movement, Prevailing Winds, the piano presents a flurry of chord clusters that yield to an introductory flute melody. Ostinato patterns, prevalent throughout most of the movement in the piano, support the flute lines with a rhythmic drive. An extended flute cadenza explores motives presented to close the movement. The middle movement, Reflection/Refraction, reveals a slowly building spectrum of string and wind colors. Dissonance Tango continues and amplifies the push and pull of tensions, focusing on the power of passion as it develops in the heat of the Latin dance.