Across the Divide is based on an orchestral piece I wrote called Chorale and Fiddle Tune. C.A.F.T. has been my most successful work, winning the Pittsburgh Symphony's Audience of the Future Composition Competition in 2014. In 2018 I adapted it for wind ensemble under the title Across The Divide on a commission from H. Robert Reynolds and a large consortium of universities.

Across the Divide is a musical bridge – spanning the gap between two contrasting elements. Element number one is a bright rhythmic melody, in the manner of a reel or fiddle tune. And element number two is a broad, spacious and noble chorale.

The piece starts right out of the gate with the driving melody, followed by several spunky and aggressive variations. The energy and the size of the orchestration keeps growing and building with each variation, leading eventually to the climactic moment, when the rhythmic melody and the chorale play simultaneously, with the slow-moving chorale unfolding majestically while the faster tune moves up in the register and soars over the top.

A brief reflective slow section follows, and then an energetic and speedy coda pops up unexpectedly to lead us on to the conclusion.

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