The Iron Horse

The Iron Horse is a musical character piece inspired by the historical and folkloric role the steam engine played in the American western frontier. This musical work began life as a four-note motive Re Do Sola (in Latin: “I only Give . . .”). This four-note germ and its variants permeate the entire work, both melodically and harmonically. While not strictly programmatic, it does reflect the pentatonism both melodically and harmonically, which are the typical musical fabric of Native American folk themes. Coupled with this are a juxtaposition of the driving rhythms of war drums played in contrast and counterpoint to the relentless, repetitious motifs of the thundering trains.