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The Mountains and You, Op. 170, No. 2 (2024)

For Tenor and Orchestra

Score Video:

Perusal Score:

Duration: 4'

Instrumentation:

  • Tenor
  • 2 Flutes
  • 2 Oboes
  • 2 Clarinets in A
  • 2 Bassoons
  • 4 Horns
  • 3 Trumpets
  • 3 Trombones
  • Tuba
  • Timpani
  • Percussion (Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum, Triangle, Tambourine, Floor Tom, Glockenspiel)
  • Violin 1
  • Violin 2
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Bass

Program Notes:

I've known Joey Thompson since summer 2017 when he participated in my annual summer chamber music recital. I recently visited him out in Utah, my third time in the state. Coming from the Midwest, I am in awe every time of how there are just - mountains, right there! Everywhere! I wrote the lyrics on the plane ride back to O'Hare and set them the next couple days. He is a very close friend and so important in my life; this is a Christmas gift for him.

The original setting was for voice and piano. As I started working on it, though, I started thinking about Cody Fry's Pictures of Mountains and how he does a lot with orchestra (in particular, I got to see him perform live with the CSO last May!). Joey and I have shared Cody Fry music every time we've hung out, so this alternate setting (re-imagining?) also seemed proper, even if it is less likely to be performed!