On the Merrimack was commissioned by Chris Martin and the Southside Middle School Band, Manchester, New Hampshire (Matthew Hammond, director), and is dedicated to the city of Manchester, New Hampshire. Constant throughout the history of the region was the central importance of the Merrimack River. The material of the piece represents the three main periods of development: The Pennacook Indians; Amoskeag and the Mills and Technology and Growth, with connective sections representing the ever-present river. Much of the melodic material for the piece is taken from the French Canadian folksong, Weaving in the United States.