Lost River
String Quartet
Total Length- 4:45 Minutes
 
Program Notes-
“Lost River” is a short work inspired by the Lost River Cave in Kentucky.  The cave itself has a rich history from serving as a hiding spot during the Civil War, to transforming into a prohibition Nite Club during the early 20th Century.  This work is specifically inspired by the river which flows from the valley outside, directly into the mouth of the cave.  The Blue Hole, the main outdoor section of the river, was rumored at one point to be the "Shortest, deepest river in the world" with a depth of 437 feet.  Though this was later proven false, the depth of the river is something that I wanted to convey within the work.  The cello starts with this flowing water figure, then passes it to other instruments in the ensemble.  Once you enter the cave, there is a very low rock called the wishing rock, in which boat passengers must duck to avoid the very low ceiling.  I wanted to portray the anxiety as well as the tension and claustrophobia within this tight space which then leads into the beautiful, serene space of the cave.  Towards the end of the work, the river continues to flow as it dissipates in the distance.