Smoky Mountain Lullaby is influenced by the music of Appalachia which in turn was influenced by the ballads, hymns, and fiddle music of the British Isles. To me, this piece feels like a love ballad, but evokes a love of home and country, perhaps more so than the love of another person. I envision a beautiful spring or summer evening, quietly watching the sun go down over the mountains from the front porch. This piece is a great opportunity for a young orchestra to work on developing a beautiful tone and depth of sound.