Roundings was commissioned by The Amarillo Symphony in celebration of the Orchestra's 75th Anniversary Season. The primary inspiration for the composition came from murals created during President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Administration.

The brief "Prologue" sets the stage, both musically and philosophically, for the entire composition. It is a simple piece, consisting entirely of slow chords which move in whole steps.

Each of the following movements is centered on a pitch which is a whole step higher than the previous one. By the last movement, seven whole steps later, the listener returns to the central pitch, on which the piece started. This musical treatment reflects the larger cyclical forces of life.

The movements, "Windmill," "Oil Well," "Locomotive," "Lariat" and "Plow," depict central icons representing the evolution and development of life in early Texas.

Throughout the entire suite the solo cello is used to introduce each movement. The soloist plays an important role, being docent or museum guide in this musical exhibition for these Texas pictures.