On a Night

The idea of a wide 'harmonic canvas' placed within a choral environment sparked the creation of On a Night. The piece was written for alto solo and unaccompanied choir, with the intention to display a variety of harmonic colours in conjunction with a number of non-musical subtexts. The work's structure was inspired by the slow, thick orchestral settings of diatonic harmony, often exhibited in works by Debussy, Ravel and (early) Scriabin. In contrast to this, On a Night was also inspired by the reflective mood of the traditional African folksong “Ukuthula” (Zulu word meaning “peace”, but also “hushed”). The text for this piece is adapted from the final stanza of the poem Meditation Denying Everything, written by Katie Peterson (2013). The poem illustrates the idea of longing for love and affection, whilst in a time of turbulence in any relationship. Upon reflection of the poet herself; "even if you renounce the possibility of love– you end up looking for it."