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P
r o g r a m
N o t e s
Four Settings from "Heartland"
This chamber music work (scored for
viola and brass quintet) is dedicated to Merryn Corsat, Principal Viola for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
Her rich sound and musicianship inspired me to find a theme blending string and
brass together. This piece has it's roots in the open places where the pioneers of yesterday carved
out this country called America. The work is in one movement with six sections as described below.
Prologue The brass establish the mood and introduce the solo viola passage
Farmhand's
Sunrise: As the farmhand rises early in the morning to do his chores, he stops to marvel at the golden splendor of the sun's
awakening. Uplifted, he throws himself into his day's work.
Red
River Mill: The bustle and excitement of the mill with it's river paddle wheel driving the grinding
stone takes the bountiful grains of "HEARLTAND" and turns it into flour for the baker. Red
River Valley: The rich green
fields of the valley are beautiful to see atop the mountains of "HEARTLAND".
The Drought: As the valley suffers through the drought, neighbors know that they will help each other. They
always live through it together. The land will always provide for them.
Epilogue: The brass quintet
concludes with comforting harmonies, restates the opening theme as the viola concludes the work which ends in peace.
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