ABOUT:

   The Ozarks are a geographical region located in the southern half of Missouri and north central Arkansas. From the towering cliffs hugging the Buffalo River to the twangy sounds of banjos and fiddles, the area is rich in culture and scenic beauty. This suite is a natural outgrowth of my love for this region of the US. I grew up near this area and have vacationed here more times than I can count. The idea for this suite started when I discovered musicologist Max Hunter’s collection of over 1600 Ozark Mountain folk songs. These recordings, along with Vance Randolph’s immense anthology of Ozark music, gave me a window into this region’s rich musical tradition.