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In the original performance of "The Elements" by Glen Newton, "Air" challenged bassoonist David Edminster to imitate Jon C. Hansen's synthesizer but play in the opposite direction until the flute melody began. The overall concept of the movement was that air turned into pitches (the synthesizer), then recognizable notes (synthesizer and bassoon, joined by the piano at letter A), then a melody (solo flute) with simple harmony (second flute at letter B), doubled melody (bassoon at C, three octaves below the first flute for 3-3/4 bars, then two octaves below, then one octave below, then unison on the C#) and counterpoint (piano's left hand at C), then simplifies at D and returns to the sound of air at the end of the movement.