Premiere

Grace Burns – University of Colorado Boulder – March 22, 2017

Program Note

The title of this piece refers to the Great Plains region of the United States. Prior to composing The Plains , I took a road trip through western North and South Dakota, visiting the region for the first time. Before taking this trip, I had spent a lot of time in parts of the Midwest further east, especially Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin. I expected to see the same rolling hills and cornfields in the Dakotas as in those states, since in my mind, it was all a part of the Midwest. However, I was startled to see bigger hills (including small mountains), tall, dry prairie glasses, and fascinating rock formations. Most of all, I saw vast amounts of empty space and land that looks untouched. I was struck by how long we could drive without seeing towns, farmhouses, or any signs of human settlement. The three movements – grasslands, rock, and sky – were inspired by the landscape and open space I saw on that trip.

Movements

I. Grasslands

II. Rock

III. Sky