Barbara was written in honor of Barbara Bowerman (1914-2010). Her husband, Bill Bowerman (1911-1999), was a famed track and field coach and cofounder of NIKE. In my 2007 commissioned symphonic biography of Bill’s life, the essential, recurring “Barbara” theme is always played by the flute. This chamber work for flute quartet takes that “Barbara” theme and develops it independently to portray certain of Barbara’s key characteristics: her love, beauty, and joyous charm; her intelligence and fascination with so many things; her reverence and faith in God; and her energy and passion for life.