RAGS TO RICHARD was commissioned by the New York Youth Symphony for the legendary Richard Stoltzman, who recorded this concerto with the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conducting. Its two rag-inspired movements are titled: 1. Terrifying Yet Marvelous (which the composer has described as a dark, evil slither of a dance) and 2. Fresh, innocent (which the composer has described as antidote to the first movement).