Although both Above the Horizon and Waccamaw Fantasy are intended to be programmatic in nature, my desire was to involve you, the listener, two different ways. Above the Horizon's intent is to have the listener interpret the music in their own personal way. The opening is meant to set the scene, looking out beyond our horizon to see what is out there for us. As the piece develops we are looking around making discoveries. As the tempo picks up we get a positive feeling of hope.
Waccamaw Fantasy's intent is to describe what we see as we take a trip down this famous river. The Waccamaw River has its headwaters in North Carolina and travels over 100 miles to its terminus in Winyah Bay, bordered by the city of Georgetown, South Carolina. The river is steeped in history and culture. Cypress swamps, tidal marshes and flowing waters are habitat for a diversity of wildlife, fish and plants. Traveling down the river you can't help notice the ever changing landscape, from its cypress trees, large pine forests and majestic oaks to the old rice fields and plantation homes of days gone by. Once a hub for commerce, it is now a popular source of recreation for those who want to escape the stresses of everyday life. I have been out on this river by both power and paddle and was inspired to write Waccamaw Fantasy.