After coming off the back of a 4 month stint writing a slightly mad piece for symphony orchestra filled with drum grooves, riffs and polyrhythms galore, I jumped straight into this piano trio without really catching my breath. Having spent time listening to and being inspired by the simplicity of composers such as Max Richter and Philip Glass, I took this piece as an opportunity to relax into some meditative sounds and explore repetitive textures, mainly through improvisation at the piano.

Coincidentally, I was writing this piece in February/March during the approach to the spring equinox and couldn’t help but notice the evening skies gradually becoming brighter and more colourful with each passing day. I then began to see how the piece mirrored this transition from dark to light, starting with cold, slow moving harmonies that gradually blossom into brighter tonal centres and faster moving material, giving the piece a sense of optimism towards the end.

Aileen Sweeney, 2025