The Blessing of Light

The first movement from her Symphony No. 1. In this "fanfare" edition, the burn of summer is depicted in an energetic opening that is also inspired by the birth of the sun. The material commences in gritty, tight harmonic clusters bookended by octave passages, guiding an energetic set of boldly intensifying statements through each of these refracted "light" scales. These harmonic clusters gradually dissipate until the audience is finally released of the tension. The ending depicts cartoonist and poet Michael Leunig's "glorious" light and its ability to consume the darkness that lies within.