While learning Tumult in the Clouds, the dedicatee of this work found parallels to the poem, An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, by W.B. Yeats. In it, a pilot acknowledges that his participation in World War I will likely lead to his own death, yet the exhilaration of flying high above the Earth surpasses all fear. The steady left-hand ostinato reflects the pilot's willingness to unwaveringly face death, while the tumultuous chords of the right hand reflect the chaos and confusion that surrounds him. Like the pilot, you will tackle dangerous maneuvers while adrenaline courses through your veins.