A master of orchestration with a passion for literature and indigenous musical traditions, Thow produced a series of works featuring unusual instrumental combinations and vivid texts. His Chumash Songs for clarinet, violin, percussion and piano (2000), commissioned by the Ventura Chamber Music Festival, incorporated melodic and rhythmic elements of the Southern California Chumash Indian tribe.
Thow was proficient in orchestration with a strong interest in literature and indigenous musical practices. He produced various compositions that featured unconventional instrumental setups and evocative texts. His Chumash Songs, composed for clarinet, violin, percussion, and piano (commissioned by the Ventura Chamber Music Festival in 2000), included melodic and rhythmic elements from the Southern California Chumash Indian heritage.