Paths to Urbino (Symphonic Suite) owes its name to a walking tour in which the composer participated in spring 1995 in the Marche, a region of north eastern Italy about 120 miles south of Venice unjustly but mercifully neglected by mass-tourism. At the time, he was inspired more with the idea of writing a musical account of the trip than with any specific thematic material. Holiday Mood is an exuberant introduction, largely constructed on a characteristic two-bar rhythm (6/8 alternating with 2/4, disturbed by the occasional 2/8).
