About

The Sitwell Singers, under the baton of Dexter Drown, embarked on a journey to enrich their repertoire through the commissioning and performance of new unaccompanied choral pieces. A concert took place on January 29th, 2024, at St John the Evangelist Church, Derby, this endeavour sought to embrace fresh artistic expressions.

The program notes for my work were articulated as follows:

“”A message to myself. This work unfolds in two movements, each with its distinct character. The inaugural movement adopts the form of a letter, capturing a stream of consciousness, while the subsequent movement delves into a poetic framework, evoking a more introspective mood. The first movement encapsulates a fleeting glimmer of hope, juxtaposed with the second movement’s austere tone, delving into an internal dialogue. Notably, the linguistic contrast between the movements is deliberate – the first in English, and the second in Portuguese.”

At the time of crafting this piece, I reflected on my estrangement from my native tongue, having predominantly composed songs and lyrics in English. Recalling my past involvement with the choir in providing Portuguese assistance for a concert in 2022, I recognized their familiarity with the language. However, to ensure coherence and clarity, the texture of the second movement remains monophonic, facilitating the precise enunciation of Portuguese. This decision was driven by practical considerations, acknowledging that Portuguese isn’t the choir’s primary language.”