As this piece was to be premiered by the Tower Saxophone Quartet in Georgia , the first vision I had was that of a gospel quartet--the vital musical tradition endemic to the deep South. The second image that came to mind was that of a Southern preacher exhorting and inspiring the congregation. While these images may or may not have much to do with reality in the "new" South, they were particularly strong for me because both of these traditions have profoundly influenced virtually all American music, and certainly my own musical thought.
The first movement of the piece, then, is a choreography between the "callin'" out of the four dynamic preachers and elements of reflection by the choir. The second movement provides the opportunity for the gospel choir to "call back.
The work was commissioned with support from the New York State Council for the Arts. It's first performance was in Rochester, NY.
--Dana Wilson