In Motion

In Motion, James M. Stephenson (2025) 6'30"
for orchestra with optional youth orchestra

In the fall of 2024, I had a glorious visit with the Pensacola Symphony and conductor Peter Rubardt as they prepared and performed my Symphony No. 2, “Voices”. What a wonderful surprise it was for me when I later received an invitation to create a new work for the orchestra’s 100th anniversary season!

A 100th anniversary is no small occasion. It means that there has been a consistency of excellence, support, and drive over a long period of time, made possible through the hard work and passion of many people, many of whom do it only for the love of music. It also means that there is pressure to continue that excellence and momentum for many more years to come, so as to live up to the standards of those that came before you.

“In Motion” is a work meant to represent that ‘hopping on a moving vehicle’ sort of effect. The music starts, and suggests a cycle of activity that has already begun, and will continue to go on; and it is simply the job of the newest person to keep it going, hopefully improve upon it, and take it to the next place. “In Motion” is also meant to present a vehicle by which the baton gets handed to the next generation. The piece is highly energetic, as an effort to capture the spirit of a 100th anniversary. It is also highly optimistic, again, as a way to recognize that 100 years is merely the beginning of the next 100 years.

Commissioned by and written for the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra in honor of their 100th anniversary season; Peter Rubardt, Music Director.

Instrumentation: 3.2.2.2/2.2.3.1/timp.3 perc/hp/strings
Optional youth orchestra instrumentation: 2.2.2.2/2.2.2.1/perc/strings

Orchestral parts are available via rental.

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