Fountains

Kansas City and Rome are considered by many to be the cities of fountains. I have lived in Kansas City for many years and am always struck by the number of fountains throughout the city. I pass by several every day. For me, they stand as reminders that I need to slow down, relax, and enjoy the momentary peace and serenity a fountain can offer. In his iconic Fontane di Roma [Fountains of Rome], composer Ottorino Respighi depicts the majestic fountains in Rome. Respighi’s music has had a profound effect on me as a composer, and as a small homage, snapshots and fragments reminiscent of his Fontane di Roma have been interspersed throughout my piece. This work takes Respighi’s Roman fountains and integrates them with the serenity that the Kansas City fountains bring me. Essentially, Fountains merges two cities half a world apart.