Inner City Rhapsody (2018-2019, rev. 2022)

for Orchestra

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Composed June 2018 - January 2019, rev. 2022

Commissioned by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

 

Instrumentation: 2 Flutes, Oboe, English horn, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, 3 Percussion, Harp and Strings

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Percussion: 4 triangles, suspended cymbal, sizzle cymbal, tam-tam, bass drum, large suspended cymbal, china cymbal

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15-17 Minutes

 

Original Version Premiere: 

Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Katharina Wincor conducting - September 4, 2019

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Revised Version Premiere: 

Mesquite Symphony Orchestra; Thomas Zuber conducting - September 10, 2022

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Subsequent performances:

Memphis Symphony Orchestra; Robert Moody conducting - February 18-19, 2023

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra; Peter Rubardt conducting - April 22, 2023

Blue Ridge Orchestra; Dr. Emily Eng conducting - December 7-8, 2024

Dexter Community Orchestra; Dr. David Schultz conducting - March 9, 2025

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Program note:

'Inner City Rhapsody' tells the story of a fictional composer (based on the actual composer's own story) and their quest to try to find their musical voice and belonging. The piece is in three distinct sections; the first, Nostalgia, is told in a flashback form and contains the seeds of musical ideas that will be explored later in the piece. The second, Struggle, is an energetic yet agitated scherzo that contains many musical ideas fighting against each other in an effort to be heard. That leads us to the final section, Emergence, in which a singular ostinato builds to a fantastic and light infused climax which represents the composer's found musical voice in full breadth.

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More information and blog post about this composition: Here