James River Rhapsody

Description

This dramatic 10-page solo was commissioned by the Richmond, Virginia Music Teachers Association in honor of their 50th anniversary. The James River has always been important to life in Virginia, flowing 340 miles from the Appalachian Mountains to Chesapeake Bay. Following the big sounds of the introductory fanfare in 4/4 time, the melody (marked Flowing swiftly), appears in 6/8 time, richly accompanied by arpeggiated LH harmonies. Later in the piece, the hands switch roles, with RH broken chords over a LH treble melody. Hand-over-hand arpeggios follow, adding to the visual impression to the performance. The music returns to 4/4 time before concluding in a similarly dramatic fashion as found in the opening of the work. A true showpiece for late-intermediate level students and performers!