A Symphonic Fantasy is the composer’s setting of the traditional Appalachian folk song Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair. The original tune was collected by English composer and folk song archivist Cecil Sharp and was thought to be of Scottish origin. The tune that is best known today is that assigned to the traditional lyrics by John Jacob Niles in 1941.
Composed in 2012, A Symphonic Fantasy was written for the Symphonic Band students at South Davis Junior High School in Bountiful, Utah and later performed by The Salt Lake Symphonic Winds in the All-Saints Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City under the composer’s baton.