Cityscape

Cityscape dates from 1992 and was composed for inclusion in an organ recital of Chicago composers as part of the Fourth Presbyterian Church’s annual Festival of the Arts. The theme of that year’s festival was”Faces of the City.” This three movement work, which depicts facets of the city, is based on a three-note descending scale (C-B-A), the opening notes of the popular song,”Chicago, Chicago, that Toddlin’ Town.” Coincidentally, this same melodic sequence marks the beginning of OLD HUNDREDTH, and a citation of that melody occurs in the third movement. The Fourth Presbyterian Church is located on the part of North Michigan Avenue which is known as”The Magnificent Mile.” Each of its Sunday morning services begins with the singing of OLD HUNDREDTH, sung to the text of the Doxology. The first performance of Cityscape was played by David Schrader, to whom it is dedicated.