Miguel Harth-Bedoya’s performance of several works by Puts over the past few years led naturally to the idea of a residency during which the composer would write a piece for the Fort Worth Symphony. Specifically the work would showcase virtuoso concertmaster Michael Shih and the amazing 1710 Stradivari violin he plays—on generous loan by Mr. and Mrs. William S. Davis of Fort Worth. Puts began the present Violin Concerto in the summer of 2006, completing it in mid-December. The composer says that...