Commissioned and premiered by the Georgia Symphony Orchestra on October 13, 2012.
Ogeechee (2012) was inspired by the composer’s parents’ home near Richmond Hill, Georgia, which sits on Ogeechee River marshland. The Ogeechee and its major tributary, the Canoochee, flow through eastern Georgia, draining a river basin rich with wetlands, forests, farms, and cities, Statesboro and Savannah among them. The composer writes: “My parents always wanted to live on the water and enjoy the peace and quiet. Mother Nature, however, had other plans. Sometimes it seems louder sitting on their back deck or front porch than sitting in the middle of NYC traffic. At times (especially at night when the frogs get going), you can’t even hold a conversation outside. The type of raucous noise changes throughout the day depending on what time of day it is, and in the distance you can sometime hear the cannon fire from Fort Stewart.” Ogeechee, a one-movement work,represents morning, afternoon, and evening on the Ogeechee River marshlands.
Check out the demonstrations for the flutes and brass extended techniques below:
