The title "Michi" means "pathway" in Japanese – simultaneously representing the different paths that people walk throughout their lives and the pursuit of cosmic truth in Eastern philosophy. While "Michi" is written-out as a composition, Abe encourages improvisation of the beginning and ending of the piece.

"Kembang Suling" was commissioned by Alexa Still, the flute professor at the University of Colorado for the 1996 International Festival of the Arts.The work includes sounds of the Balinese gamelan orchestra and the shakuhachi and suling, the flutes of Japan and Indonesia.

"Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints" is a full concerto arranged for small ensemble by Jennie Dorris. The piece reflects Hovahaness's travels through Asia.

From the program notes of the composer: "Although ‘Hammer and Bow' tells no specific story, it has the feeling to me, of two people relating closely on an emotional level – at times harmonious, at others discordant, occasionally playful, but always communication on some other-than-conscious level."

From the program notes of the composer: "The music, as the title suggests, is characterized by continuously changing textures of rapidly articulated pitches within a framework of continually shifting meters. The linear, harmonic and gestural elements of the work are derived from a series of four, five, six and seven note pitch sets."