Composed in 1981, In Praise of Zephyrus was written for oboist Philip West. Richard Wernick later provided this brief program note: Zephyrus was the god of the west wind. Philip West, of blessed memory, for whom I wrote the piece, was a wind player, an oboist and English horn player of distinction, and a very dear friend. The three movements are in no way programmatic, but reflect to me at least the mercurial and colorful aspects of Phil’s vivid persona.