Performers:
Lauren Hodges
Peijun Xu
EFM Faculty

Three American Folk Hymns for two violas, Kenji Bunch (b. 1973)

Lauren Burns Hodges, viola; Peijun June Xu, viola

Amazing Grace (American folk hymn), arr. for four violas, Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962 )

Arboretum for four violas, Op. 52 (2024), Christopher Lowry (b. 1988)

Adoration (arr. for six violas by Elaine Fine), Florence Price (1887-1953)

“Mr. Sandman” (arr. for six violas by Max Raimi), Pat Ballard (1899-1960)

EFM Violists: Sarah Cote, Ben Geller, Jamie Hofman, Chi Lee, Diane Phoenix-Neal, Daniel Reinker; Guest Composer and Violist: Christopher Lowry

PROGRAM NOTES

Three American Folk Hymn Settings by Kenji Bunch (b. 1973) is a ten-minute duo for two violas divided into three movements played without pause. After an opening Prologue, Bunch uses three hymns as melodic material for fiddling Americana in the second and third movements: “What Wondrous Love is This,” “In Lonely Mountain Ways,” and “I Come with Joy.”