Bight Wings and Dappled Things
Earlier this year, over two separate days in the middle of renovating our home, we recorded the piano pieces for Bright Wings and Dappled Things. Our merry little band consisted of pianist Kay Chim, audio engineer Phil Threlfall, his assistant Brodie, and myself.
The recording took place at St John's Malvern, a beautiful church with an extraordinary resonance—one that Phil expertly tamed just enough for the recording. Those two days were filled with a mixture of emotions: nervousness, excitement, moments of tedium, and quiet hope. Above all, though, they were filled with music, making them a wonderful experience.
On both occasions we had some unexpected guests, ladies from the church setting up flowers. They graciously worked around us as we recorded. During those sessions I became acutely aware of every sound around us—the traffic passing outside, aircraft overhead, the creaks of the old building, neighbours chatting in the distance, and even the gentle rustle of flowers as they were arranged.
Once the recording was finished, a number of other composing opportunities came my way, leading to a very busy season of writing. Now, after a long and patient wait, Bright Wings and Dappled Things is finally ready to leave home and find its place in the world.
That image of "leaving home" has carried particular significance for me this year. At the beginning of the year my youngest child—my only daughter—moved out. It has been a season of adjustment, holding together grief at her absence, pride as I watch her spread her wings, concern for the challenges she will inevitably face, and the consolation that we can still share regular conversations despite the distance.
The release of these pieces will reflect that same patient journey. Rather than releasing the album all at once, each piece will be shared as a single every four to six weeks, with the complete album following around this time next year. I have also written some piano interludes to go with each piece and I plan to post these here with the release of each single.
As that journey begins, I find myself once again feeling that familiar blend of anticipation and uncertainty—excitement, hope, and a few nerves. My prayer is that these pieces will find the people who need them most, and that they might offer a moment of beauty, peace, and quiet contemplation along the way.