This piece is a small tribute to minimalism in California, specifically the San Francisco area. The San Francisco Conservatory of Music has a long tradition with minimalism. John Adams was a professor at the conservatory from 1972-1982, and Terry Riley studied at the same institution from 1955-1957.

In this pseudo-minimalist piece, I tried to incorporate the shifting textures and rhythmic stasis seen in Terry Riley's work, while adding a dash of Adam's rhythmic ostinato flair.

The scene is early morning in San Francisco; you are still asleep. The sounds of distant cars can be heard, with the faintest ticking of your watch on the dresser. Shifting dreamlike colors fill your head, until suddenly, your alarm clock breaks the silence! In a fury you wake up and hurry to work, dodging the traffic and potholes along the way. You come to a screeching halt in the parking lot.

(Program notes provided by the composer. Please use these program notes for all performances.)