Villanelle for French Horn, Dukas (Farewell to the Highlands, Farewell to the North, The Birth-Place of Valour, the Country of Worth; Farewell to the Torrents and Loud-Pouring Floods")

This piece was originally inspired by the blue twilight and early commuters that can be imagined in Paul Dukas’ "Villanelle for French Horn". Infused are also themes from Robert Burns’ poem/song, "My Heart’s In The Highlands", to emphasize the Villanelle’s history of speaking to the joy of the pastoral landscape. This wild joy of nature and all that arises from it has here been applied to the Manhattan landscape, and has been placed in contrast to the daily maneuvers necessary in urban life.