The material for this piece is all based around immutable musical objects and how they interact with one another. The opening movement takes various ostinato patterns and has them combine with different bass notes. The second movement attempts to merge three melodic fragments with three different chords and the final movement is a sequence of unchanging passacaglias which overflow into an ecstatic conclusion. The whole thing reminded me of someone rearranging furniture in a room; the actual pieces don't change but, rather, combine in different ways to make something pleasing. Hence, the title: "How About Here." / text

Composed exclusively in the last decade, Joshua Rist's works have received significant performances by numerous high-profile ensembles including prominent high school, collegiate, and community choirs. Although conductors continue to program his works with increased frequency, minimal scholarly work is published about this music and its composer. The quality of Rist's body of work coupled with a scarcity of scholarly research provides opportunity for further study. Closer examination of Rist's works could provide a framework for conductors who perform his music. This study provides background and bibliographic information on the composer. It contains a review of choral works by Rist highlighting critical elements within each work that provide a framework for future performances of his works. This dissertation identifies stylistic characteristics that define Rist's compositional style. Additionally, it highlights the evolution of Rist's artistic growth and development.