Co-commissioned by the Virginia Arts Festival, Virginia Opera, the Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond, and Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, Rapahannock County pairs the outstanding and celebrated talents of composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Mark Campbell. Rappahannock County is a theatrical song cycle that captures key emotional, sociological, and historical moments in the Civil War. Much of the text was inspired by actual events and drawn from diaries, letters, and other accounts. The narrative follows the lines of history, from secession in 1861 to defeat in 1865, and is in five parts. Although the story is centered geographically in Virginia, its themes are universal to the Civil War.

Instrumentation:
Soprano, 2 Baritones, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Flute (doubling Piccolo), Oboe (doubling English Horn), 2 Clarinets in Bb (2. doubling Bass Clarinet in Bb), Bassoon, Horn in F, Trumpet in C (doubling Flugelhorn in Bb), Trombone, Timpani, Percussion (1 player):, 2 Suspended Cymbals on Stand (1 with light chain suspended on top, the other without a chain), Splash Cymbal, 2 Timpani (26” and 29”), Orchestra Bells, Crotales (octave set; high octave), Snare Drum,, Woodblock, Triangle, Ratchet, Xylophone, Concert Bass Drum, Tamtam on Stand (32”), Auto Spring Coil, Washboard, Bell Tree, Mark Tree, Piatti, Concert Tom-toms (set of 4 different pitches), Hi-hat, Piano (doubling Celesta), 3 Violins, 2 Violas, 2 Violoncellos, Contrabass.