LSU Wind Ensemble – "Rivers Will Flow" (World Premiere)

The LSU Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Damon Talley, presents the world premiere of "Rivers Will Flow," a new work by Associate Professor of Percussion Brett Dietz featuring all three LSU School of Music percussion faculty as soloists.

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The title of Rivers Will Flow comes from Biblical passage of John 7:37-39. “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” The piece is also inspired by the hymn Shall We Gather by the River (1864) by the American poet and gospel music composer, Robert Lowry (1826 - 1899) and its well-known version At the River (1952) by Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990). The title of the individual movements come from the lyrics of the hymn.

I was inspired to write Rivers Will Flow after the death of my mother Ann at the age of 83. She grew up on the shores of the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and often told me stories of how much she enjoyed swimming and playing in the river as a child. "At the River" was played at her funeral.

Program note by the composer

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Recorded at the LSU Union Theater on September 28, 2021.