Audio Clip:

Great Prospects Overture (2008)

Commissioned by
Prospect High School Orchestra
Mount Prospect, Illinois

2222 223 tmp+2 strings 

Duration: 8 minutes

Great Prospects Overture was written to celebrate the past inhabitants of the land northwest of Chicago, Illinois.  Inspired by the music of the Potowatomi Indians, the opening theme is a series of downward-moving melodic phrases of irregular length, accompanied by rumbling drums and shakers.  The contrasting second theme is a simply-harmonized Lutheran chorale in regular rhythm.  A majestic recapitulation of the two themes occurs simultaneously, celebrating the commonality of the American spirit.