A musical road trip in five movements.
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Here are samples of each movement.
Blue, Blue Pacific
Warms waters in the south, cold in the north. Stretches of blue under fog-filtered sunlight. Waves lapping at rocky coasts. The first movement begins with the harp creating a rolling ambiance that is carried throughout the piece. The French horns add grandeur and sense of endless space. At times the seas are rough, but the themes and rhythms of this piece focus on the blue, blue waters of the magnificent Pacific Ocean.
Across The Great Divide
Tall mountains, rocks and trees, a geologic separator. If you make it through the pass, the prairies of the Midwest await. The flutes presage the great peaks that await as the horns, bassoons, clarinets and oboes play ascending lines. Ascending piano chords introduce the main theme. The orchestra echoes the awe of the mighty mountains. Rising arpeggios take us through the mountain passes. The great plains sprawl before us.
Castles Of The Prairie
The barns and silos of Midwestern farms are the castles of the prairie. This movement captures daybreak over the farms as the landscape begins to come to life. Woodwinds usher in the dawn and violins echo the increasing activity. Flutes and oboes create a pastoral feel. Then the strings, with the flutes tagging along, reach a mild crescendo as the full day dawns and work begins anew.
Atlantic, Atlantic
Wild and unpredictable. Calm then stormy, the Atlantic ocean is ever changing. The music in this movement is also ever changing: Smooth melodies give way to dissonance, pizzicato strings imitate energetic whitecaps. The movement is full of rising and falling motifs. The movement ends with a dissonant climax punctuated with a chime.
Big City
New York City. Grand and graceful, tall and tough. A home for diverse musical styles from operas and symphonic works to hip-hop and jazz. The final movement captures the vibrant and dynamic city at its best. Horns, flutes, and strings play the opening themes before the piano takes over. The entire orchestra then trades mini motifs. The piano and bass kick off the jazz inspired middle section where the clarinet and trumpet enter a musical exchange culminating in the rising and grand finale.
