A Swimmer’s Set

A Swimmer’s Set: a three piece set written for Lori Shontz, a competitive swimmer and
lifelong athlete to be performed at the In Good Hands Concert 2025 in Eugene,
Oregon. This yearly Cascadia Composers’ sponsored event fosters the relationship
between living, local composers with music students and their teachers. Lori is a
professor of practice in journalism at the University of Oregon and is a piano student
of Juan Avendano Fonseca. When meeting Lori via Zoom, it was obvious she was an
advanced player and was up to the challenge.
No. 1 Freestyle Sprint is a vigorous front crawl stroke in the competitive arena. Polyrhythms
and register changes evoke the exertion of aquatic racing.
No. 2 Sunrise Backstroke breathes a calm morning swim in a tranquil body of freshwater.
The melody represents mindful processing that occurs in solitary exercise.
No. 3 Open Waters depicts the power kicks necessary for gliding through open waters
disturbed by wind and waves.

Keys:

Total duration: 6 minutes