After the Fires (2023)
(Adagio for Cello and Piano)

To my darling wife Trish., with gratitude for the endless inspiration she gives me everyday.

 

 

The piece was written especially for Trish and Anna's recital during the 2023 Tyalgum Festival and awoke from a throw away line from Trish to the composer when she said.."I really like the slow mvt of your Black Summer symphony, write something like that". 

The main section of the Adagio uses the same chordal structure as the main climax of the slow mvt of the aforementioned symphony, and the cello line is similar to the oboe solo that highlights that particular section of that work. I knew what Trish meant when she said that throw away line. The short Adagio is meant to represent the emotion and memories of the aftermath of so many communities in Australia following the Black Sumer bushfires in the summer of 2019-2020.

 

I am indebted to Trish and Anna for their great energy preparing for the performance and also for the suggestions that have made it into this revised score.