Heartland Verses

Heartland Verses is a two-movement composition based on the works of lowa native and U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. The first movement, "Flow, blue" is based on a short poem that describes the patterns of the China plates owned by the author's aunt. The raspy sound of shakers and maracas interact with a simple tune to portray the old woman who is both weathered and sweetened by her many years. In "the dust of his wings," a species of moth is cited that will drink from the tears of sleeping animals. Kooser's beautiful poem describes the sleeper and the insect as conversing through dreams and awakening renewed at the dawn. A nervous and darting motive is accompanied by the fluttering of wings (snare drum with brushes) as the melody from the first movement is transformed into a bright and optimistic conclusion. This work was commissioned by ten university and high school band programs from the state of lowa led by Myron Peterson, past president of the lowa Bandmasters Association. This work is dedicated to my high school English teacher Mrs. Fischer who knew that I loved poetry almost as much as music.

- notes by the composer, Summer 2019