Band

This colorful folk song describes the tale of a man's gray mare that is loaned to a friend for a trip to Widdicombe Fair. After being loaned continually to other friends, the horse eventually returns to its original owner as a ghost appearing ghastly white with a rattling of bones. It's good for phrasing practice in 3/4 and the cheerful little tune is a gem of the genre. Cute!

Composer Philip Sparke is fascinated by the early history of the American West, in particular the incredible expedition undertaken by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The two explorers were dispatched by President Thomas Jefferson in the first decade of the 19th century to map the headwaters of the Missouri River and establish a route to the Pacific, a two-year journey that led them across the uncharted Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Big Sky Overture depicts the vastness and beauty of this area and will bring a feel of the Wild West to any concert.