The Great Plains (2023)

for solo piano and film - ca. 70'

 

​The Great Plains explores the paradox of ever-changing stasis through eight figuration preludes for solo keyboard and film. Each movement preserves a steady, unchanging character, even as every measure remains unique. The title is inspired by the vast North American flatlands stretching west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains. For me, driving through the Great Plains on a long road trip mirrors the experience of listening to these preludes. The landscape is in constant flux—roads, grasses, farms, fences, rolling hills, and houses shift with each passing mile—yet the overwhelming expanse and endless sky create a feeling of unchanging openness. To complement this meditative motion, I filmed eight short films during the summer of 2023 between Colorado Springs and Kansas City, capturing the quiet beauty of the plains and mirroring the music’s delicate interplay between change and continuity.​

​

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.

​