Symphony No. 1 “Four Loves”

2024

Commissioned by The Houston Ballet, choreographed by Silas Farley

Based on the four ancient Greek words for love, as articulated in The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

Four movements, 33 minutes

I. Storge (Familial Love)

II. Philia (Friendship)

III. Eros (Romantic Love)

IV. Agape (Divine Love)

Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons; 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba; timpani, 3 percussion (vibraphone, marimba, tubular bells, suspended cymbal, crash cymbals, Chinese cymbal, 2 tam-tams, bass drum), harp; strings

Premiere date: September 19, 2024, Brown Theater, The Wortham Center, Houston, TX (see details here).

Subsequent performances on September 21, 22, 27, 28, & 29

The Houston Ballet Orchestra, Simon Thew, conductor