Since I settled in El Paso in 2004, the scenes and stories of the American Old West have been a frequent source of inspiration for my compositions. When I was writing Pioneer Adventure in the summer and fall of 2015, I spent many a weekend afternoon hiking the lands of southern New Mexico and far West Texas. In this piece I seek to capture some of the spirit of these landscapes and of the people who blazed paths in this beautiful, yet stark and forbidding terrain.
The opening theme is a rather simple, yet rhythmically vigorous tune, marked by a sense of a pioneer’s gritty confidence and raw energy. A short transition leads to a more expansive second theme, reflecting the grandeur and majesty of the region’s desert and mountain vistas. Based on both of these main themes, the middle section builds in intensity and culminates in a climax where a flurry of energy accompanies the broader second theme. Eventually the two main themes return, followed by a raucous and triumphant conclusion.