Welcome to my newest symphonic work.  It's still a work in progress.  This symphony is an attempt to depict wild and wonderful West Virginia, the natural beauty of an amazing little state.  It's a very programatic work.  With orchestral sounds, you will hear the rushing streams and rivers, wildlife, a quiet cabin, or rain and thunder.

West Virginia Symphony (1st movement)

1 Prologue, single movement

Little Black Bear:  Towards the end of my trip while hiking I heard a rustle in the forest.  Probably a deer.  No, it’s a bear.  Deer blend in to the environment.  Not bear!  They move rather clumsily and quickly, especially when they’re afraid of you.  Thank goodness the bear was more frightened than I.  But not without stopping every 4-5 seconds.  We were definitely checking each other out and on the move, too!  The music attempts to depict this erratic behavior of the bear and the human in the forest.

4. Little Black Bear from Seneca Lake

3 Cabin

2 Wilderness Trail

1 Forest

4. Country "Air"

Three Kayaks and two other movements...

4 Caryatids, Single Movement

3 Monastiraki, Single Movement

1 Prologue, Single Movement

Greetings.  I am a classical singer and former professor.  I own my own music academy.  Now my primary interest besides teaching is composing.  My chamber opera was performed recently in Charleston West Virginia (before the pandemic).  Here you will see movements of my first string quartet.  I have composed many piano and choral pieces.  Currently I am at work with my first big symphonic venture:  Athens, a symphonic poem inspired by three trips to Athens, Greece.

Mark Hornbaker

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