The Squares of Raleigh for clarinet and strings

The original layout for North Carolina’s capital city, Raleigh, featured a four-acre green block in each corner. Today, Moore and Nash Squares are public parks, and Burke Square houses the governor’s mansion. (As Caswell Square has been consumed by urban development and no longer exists, it is not included in this composition.)

The music captures the character of Moore and Nash squares via haunting melodies developed in layers by the instrumental combination, reflecting the quiet and peaceful natures of these green areas that are embedded in the downtown hustle and bustle. Burke Square’s theme is an elegant melody for the violin, appropriate for the large Queen Anne style house that graces it. At the city’s center is Union Square, which is now called Capital Square. As one would expect, the capitol building resides there. It is very ably depicted within this piece by military march themes.

Visitors to downtown Raleigh today should find this composition right on task.

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