A true family affair, Ewazen's Quartet from the Heartland was written to celebrate the retirement of a good friend and long-time band director. The instrumentation reflects those practiced by his wife (flute) and daughters (trumpet and horn), who performed the work at a surprise party with the composer at the piano. The Quartet is an arrangement from the first movement of Ewazen's Heartland Symphony, which he describes as "lively, energetic, playful, and joyous."