4. Rivers and Hills

"Rivers and Hills" imagines the escaping formerly enslaved persons reaching the river across which their freedom will be found. The music draws materials from the folksong "Follow the Drinking Gourd," here in a style influenced by the music of Debussy. At this point an Underground Railroad operative would ferry them across the river. The Brazos Valley Symphony under Marcelo Busiki perform, with featured soli ensemble the Marian Anderson String Quartet.