I wanted capture the spiritual essence of dawn as I see it. The melancholia of the space between sleep and wakefulness, and the gentle murmurs of nature.

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Often, when I was younger, I’d stay up all night until dawn. It was a beautifully surreal moment when the dark blue sky gradually lightened, the frogs quieted, and the kookaburras began their laughter. In those moments, the spirits of the night gently rested, awaiting the next sunset.

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The space between dreams and wakefulness lingers gently at dawn, filled with bittersweet melancholia—longing for memories of the past, regret, and sadness. As the sun rises, it reminds us that a new day has begun.

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The piece is structured to represent each passing moment of dawn, beginning with the gentle whispers and murmurs of the ghostly hours before the sun rises. It progresses to the awakening of nature, the awakening of humanity, and culminates in the sweet, loving orange warmth of the rising sun.

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Shades at Dawn premiered at Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) on the 28th of October 2024. I would like to thank Maria Zhdanovich (Flute) for supporting the creation of this new piece, and for the brilliant virtuosity of all of the ANAM artists involved including Ronan Apcar (Piano), Jesse Vivante (Percussion), James Armstrong (Violin), Liam Pilgrim (Violin), Helena Burns (Viola) and Cindy Masterman (Cello). I'd also like to thank the ANAM staff who facilitated the performance and Nathan Ellul for his recording skills.