Commissioned by violinist Lara St. John

My first exposure to the songs of Stephen Foster was through cartoons, which relied on Foster's tunes for stock musical motifs, evoking everything from "Camptown Races" to "Old Folks at Home." This new medley arrangement, written for violinist Lara St. John, reexamines some of Foster's greatest hits, transforming them into a showpiece for the soloist. It's a medley of cheerful romps and lyrical melismata -- but without the talking rabbits.