The Great Plains (2023)

for solo piano and film - ca. 70'

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The Great Plains is comprised of eight figuration preludes for keyboard exploring the idea of ever-changing stasis. Each movement has a different character and is built around a short segment of five-part Bach-style voice-leading that repeats and phases in a tintinnabuili-inspired technique of contrapuntal phasing. As a result, from measure to measure the music never repeats exactly, but still retains a sameness and stasis throughout. The name of the piece comes from the massive flatlands in North America located west of the Mississippi River and east of the rocky mountains. For me, the experience of driving through the plains on a long road trip is similar to listening to these pieces. As you drive, the local details—roads, grasses, farms, fences, gentle hills, and houses—fluctuate constantly while the sameness of the wide expanse and huge skies maintains a sameness. This piece is meant to highlight the beauty of the prairies, which span from Canada to Mexico, and honor the importance of the Great Plains in history, culture, energy production, and agriculture.

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The Great Plains was premiered by Molly Morkoski on February 16, 2024 at the University of South Carolina and recorded for release in early 2025.

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