Programme Notes – Sunrise and Safari (2006)

This work consists of two movements which can be played together or separately. Both movements last around three and a half minutes.
The first movement Singapore Sunrise is intended for school bands, and is based on the Singaporean melody Ikan Kekek. It is characterised by a mysterious opening with early morning birdcalls on the woodwinds before the melody takes over and rises to a climax.

Night Safari is aimed at slightly more advanced bands and is a depiction of Singapore’s world famous Safari park that can only be visited in the dark. I have tried to recapture the sense of excitement and danger as the wild animals are seen (or sometimes just heard) in their natural habitat. The piece is a sort of jazz waltz but with a lot of surprising sounds!

Sunrise and Safari was commissioned as the test piece for concert bands for the Singapore Youth Festival 2007.