RIVER CITY FANFARE

PROGRAM NOTE

Owensboro on the Ohio

Commissioned by the Owensboro Symphony and conductor Nicholas Palmer, RIVER CITY FANFARE is a joyful and playful composition that attempts to capture the essence of Owensboro and the Ohio River. The piece opens with a rhythmic cryptogram of Owensboro's name, crafted in a playful game of morse code. As the work unfolds, the majestic Ohio River takes center stage, flowing through the middle of the piece. With sweeping melodies and rich harmonies, the composer creates a sense of motion and fluidity, capturing the energy and spirit of the river. Designed in an arch form, inspired by the shape of the Ohio River as it passes Owensboro, the piece ends as it begins, with the rhythmic cryptogram returning to bring the work full circle.