Tales Before the Dawn of Time

I. Once Upon a Time

II. A Light in the Winter

III. Temptation

IV. New Friends | The Chase | Where the Sea Land Meets the Sea

V. Darkness Triumphs

VI. Deep Magic From Before the Dawn of Time

Program Notes

Generously commissioned by ROCO, Tales Before the Dawn of Time draws its narrative inspiration from a renowned children's fantasy, one which provided me with the opportunity to compose on an unusually epic canvas - a 25-minute symphonic suite that unfolds in six contrasting movements. The source material, with its imaginative world-building and mythic undertones, allowed me to explore a musical language steeped in the grand operatic tradition of Wagner - a torch that has been since carried by film score composers such as Erich Wolfkang Korngold, John Williams, and Howard Shore. I have always had an affinity for melody and lyricism, and to produce a score with no less than nine prominent leitmotifs, each symbolizing different characters and realized by specific instruments or instrumental colours, was a rare and joyous opportunity.

While Tales Before the Dawn of Time was originally conceived with narration in mind, I thought it would be an interesting experiment to initially present a purely instrumental version of the work. Listeners familiar with the source material may recognize the references suggested by the movement titles, although I have refrained from making any direct allusions. Those less familiar with the story are encouraged to beckon to their inner child, so to speak, and imagine their own. In this program note I have deliberately omitted a concrete synopsis in the hopes that audiences will form a visceral and emotional impression - unspoiled by the composer's notes - based on only the music itself.

Performances

April 18/19, 2025 - ROCO (River Oaks Chamber Orchestra), conducted by Delyana Lazarova. Church of St. John and the Divine, Houston, Texas (USA).

Commissions and Awards

Commissioned by ROCO (River Oaks Chamber Orchestra).