Shenandoah Triptych - Brian Balmages

This three-part fantasy opens with a brisk, light style. The piece moves quickly into a lyrical treatment of Shenandoah. A restatement of the opening motif leads into a slower section in which the original theme is presented both backward and forward in a beautiful harmonic setting. A final section utilizes additional melodic variations and a chorale setting under a woodwind ostinato before coming to a dynamic conclusion. An ideal festival piece!