Until this is performed by an
orchestra, the only recording is of the string quartet performance from 2013,
available on the chamber version web page. The first movement has about 50% new
material, but the other three movements are pretty close to the orchestral
version.
Amarillo ma non troppo
III. Dance for the seriously ill [6']
Largo
In 2008, I wrote this quartet (then titled Ananda Dances) for my friend
Eric Pritchard, first violinist of the Ciompi Quartet at Duke University. After
the premiere performance of the string quartet in 2013, I was not satisfied
with the first movement, and recomposed it in 2024, during the presidential
election. This motivated me to give it a new title, Harris Waltz, in
honor of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, in their failed attempt to stop Donald
Trump from having a second term as president. The second movement, Texas Two
Step, pays at least nominal tribute to the state of my birth and home for
many years. I can�t claim much authenticity in its two-stepness but at least
it�s fairly up-tempo and in 4/4, and appropriate for a formal and rather crazed
square dance. The third movement was originally written
just before the birth of Aaron Pritchard, son of Eric and Laura; during the
revisions of 2024, Aaron was quite sick and undergoing difficult treatments,
thus the new title to this movement, Dance for the seriously ill.
The last movement stems from the inspired fiddling and great musicianship of
the Roma people, as well as barn dances.
In 2024, I orchestrated it to make Symphony No. 4: American Dances. The
instrumentation is winds in pairs (second flute doubles piccolo); four horns,
two trumpets, timpani, and strings.
Cover photo; the composer at the
YMCA, August 29, 2024.