THE ART OF SAILING AT DAWN

for Chamber Orchestra

Composed: 2020
Duration:  6 minutes
Instrumentation: fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn, tpt, tbn, perc, hp, strings

PROGRAM NOTES

Imagine preparing to board a sailboat at dawn.  The water is completely calm.  There is hardly a sound except the occasional early morning birdcall and sound of a ripple breaking on the shore.   Leaving the dock, you are barely moving on the calm water. But as the sun rises above the horizon, a little breeze picks up and the boat begins to move more steadily.  As the day arrives, the breeze becomes a steady wind, and occasional big waves smash into the boat before everything is calm again.  The technical requirements and knowledge it takes to sail a big boat, are exhilarating, but are outweighed by the feeling of the peace and the emotional response to the beauty and power of the water and open space.  It reminds me of the popular 1974 book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance which demonstrates that rational expertise and Zen-like “being in the moment” can harmoniously coexist. 

REVIEWS

“Much of the orchestral sound world is extremely evocative, redolent of natural landscapes, and certainly with a basis in an emotional response to the world. For example, this was immediately apparent in the lyrical gentle undulating ‘The Art of Sailing at Dawn’…The language is undoubtedly modern and crosses a wide variety of styles from early 20th century impressionism to more challenging contemporary, traversing elements that remind me at times of John Adams amongst others. The orchestral richness is assured and compelling.” - Ian Orbell, Classical Music Sentinel

“It begins quietly with a hushed, almost Sibelian atmosphere, with violin glissandi imitating bird calls. The chamber orchestra is used immaculately, and one could be forgiven in thinking it was written for a larger group. Rocking figures imitate waves and various solos and one can almost feel the spray splashing against us. Hugely effective sound painting that is beautifully shaped by the conductor.”
- Paul RW Jackson, MusicWeb International

“Beautiful programmatic language comes through in ‘The Art of Sailing at Dawn,’ which opens the album. Even within a highly atmospheric orchestral work, the composer can still derive intrigue through a combination of conventional and adventurous writing. The opening flute calls are idyllic enough, but it is the strings’ glissandi (using harmonics) which add that extra element of curious eeriness.” - Azusa Ueno, The Classic Review

“Inspired by a passion for boats, The Art of Sailing at Dawn is a glowing seascape with echoes of Debussy’s ‘La Mer.’” - Clive Paget, Musical America

“…a tone poem that evokes the feeling of sailing at dawn. From the bird cry that opens the piece to the gentle sense of motion on the waves, it is a peaceful evocation of a smooth sail on a calm lake.”
- Karl Nehring, Classical Candor