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THE GREAT PLAINS explores the paradox of ever-changing stasis through eight figuration preludes for solo keyboard and film. Each movement preserves a steady, unchanging character, even as every measure remains unique. The title is inspired by the vast North American flatlands stretching west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains. For me, driving through the Great Plains on a long road trip mirrors the experience of listening to these preludes. The landscape is in constant flux—roads, grasses, farms, fences, rolling hills, and houses shift with each passing mile—yet the overwhelming expanse and endless sky create a feeling of unchanging openness. To complement this meditative motion, I filmed eight short films during the summer of 2023 between Colorado Springs and Kansas City, capturing the quiet beauty of the plains and mirroring the music’s delicate interplay between change and continuity.

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Produced by David Kirkland Garner

Recorded February 7-8, 2024 at Dreamflower Acoustic

Recorded by Jeremy Tressler

Edited by David Kirkland Garner

Mixed and Mastered by Jeff Francis

Cover Art by David Kirkland Garner and Dan Ruccia