Composer’s Note:

The original steel band version was written at the request of Jim Royle for his student pan ensemble in Connecticut. As I was composing the work, I also heard a percussion ensemble orchestration in my “mind’s ear”. So in January 2005, I also orchestrated that version of the work for that instrumentation. Upon first hearing Keiko Abe play her wonderful marimba work, Tambourin Paraphrase, I offered Keiko a post-concert compliment: “While listening to your superb performance of Tambourin Paraphrase, I joyously had images of an imaginary meeting between Milhaud and Stravinsky, drinking wine in a little outdoor cafe on Mont Martre.” In thinking about Rio Grande Riffs, perhaps this work might conjure up an imaginary meeting of Stravinsky and Mozart drinking Pina Coladas in Trinidad or Tobago. You almost can’t miss the hiccups!