Robert Sheldon

About the composer:

Please click here for a full biography of the composer: https://robertsheldonmusic.com/blogs/about/about-robert-sheldon

Robert Sheldon

Artistic Director's Notes

[Notes taken from the score]

Much of Kentucky's (USA) musical heritage is steeped in the traditions of Appalachia, an area largely influenced by settlers from Scotland and Ireland [This is an interesting comparison to the music of Canada's East Coast - Ed.]. Appalachian Morning acknowledges these pioneers with a musical walk through the woods and mountains of the Cumberland Gap [A historically important gap within the Appalachian mountains - Ed.]. This lovely composition allows for a moment of reflection and lyrical expression on any concert program.

Conductor's Notes

In some ways, this piece is the technically easiest piece in the program for the orchestra to play. There are not too many fast notes, nor extremes of register (High or Low notes). In other ways, this makes the piece quite difficult to perform, as every player's focus is on other musical elements - especially the dynamics (How loud and soft to play a series of notes). We have greatly enjoyed the challenge of bringing these subtle elements to light and to share the composer's vision of a walk through the woods.