by Blake Buehler
6'30" / 2024
Lauded by renowned conductor Felipe Tristán as “a fast, exciting new work; the perfect concert closer,” Riverglass is a dynamic six-minute composition that captures the energy of sunlight dancing on fast-moving water. Inspired by the aftermath of a flood on the Lanana Creek Trail in Nacogdoches, Texas, the piece evokes a sense of fluid motion and renewal. After a week of torrential rain, the creek and trail had flooded, leaving behind debris- especially shards of glass. As the waters receded, the sun’s rays reflected off the glass, casting a dazzling array of light and color across the ground and trees. This vivid, fleeting scene became the inspiration for Riverglass, a musical journey that mirrors the beauty of light and water.
