"Lieuwen’s Gulfstream was composed in honor of Messiaen’s 100th anniversary, and uses the same instrumentation as his Quartet for the End of Time. A reference to the physical phenomenon (not the luxury jet), the piece contains hints of jazz and minimalism to depict water in various states, inspired by the oceans currents’ role in contemporary climate change. It brims with infectious syncopations and good humor, and is clearly the product of a composer well acquainted with drawing on ecological phenomenon as inspiration."

March/April 2012