Patchant was composed in June 2008. The title combines "Pat" (in recognition of
Pat McFarland, who commissioned the work) and "chant" (the French word for "singing"). Singing is the operative word throughout - from the tender cantabile e
semplice of the opening, to the melismatic cantabile e lirico of the first variation, through the jazzy scat singing in the central Allegro, and culminating in a
sonorous molto cantabile reprise of the opening theme. The work concludes quietly; the singing here is wistful and bittersweet.
A CD of the work is available on Boston Records (BR1075CD), featuring a performance which substitutes English horn for viola. The performers are three principal players from the Atlanta Symphony: Christina Smith, flute; Patrick McFarland, English horn; Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp. Below are four excerpts from that performance:
