Old and Lost Rivers

• This piece was composed in 1986 while Picker was Composer in Residence for the Houston Symphony Orchestra.¹

“Driving east from Houston along Interstate 10, you will come to a high bridge which crosses many winding bayous. These bayous were left behind by the great wanderings over time of the Trinity River across the land. When it rains the bayous fill with water and begin to flow. At other times — when it is dry — they evaporate and turn green in the sun. The two main bayous are called Old River and Lost River. Where they converge, a sign on the side of the highway reads: Old and Lost Rivers.”

From Picker’s program notes²

• Complete Picker program notes here

1. Tobias Picker, “Old and Lost Rivers,” TobiasPicker.com, accessed December 12, 2019, http://tobiaspicker.com/portfolio/old-and-lost-rivers/.
2. Ibid.