With Snapshots of Summer (flute, clarinet, and string orchestra), I wanted to capture their energy as well as the sights and sounds of the environment around us. Each movement in Snapshots of Summer captures a moment in a day. In "Sunrise" the clarinet depicts dawn breaking as the world slowly wakes up. Soon the flute joins in, followed by the solo viola, violin, and then the rest of the strings. In "Flight of the Birds" the rush of strings send off the birds as the orchestra settles in on a dance - the melodic lines soar and dip like birds across the sky. Only the flute, clarinet, and the concertmaster play in the "Interlude" as a moment of repose. The interlude transitions into the next movement. When the rest of the strings join in, they begin the third movement, "Sunset Red," which depicts a beautiful summer evening as the sky is awash in the setting sun. Then, "Cicadas at Night" conclude the work as various insects at night create music around us.
