In Our Hands, a Canvas is a sonic representation of the philosophical concept that perception is a main facet of human creativity. The melodic and harmonic framework was inspired by Balinese gamelan music, which uses gongan, a cyclical structure, as well as kotekan, or interlocking parts. A technique similar to ombak, the shimmering vibration that occurs when gongs are tuned slightly apart from each other, is also used. The piece alternates between sections of formal structure and sections that give performers freedom within a set of parameters. The meaning of the work is created by the audience’s perceptions. This work was funded in part by the Composer Assistance Program of New Music USA.