Sapiens

Sapiens integrates traditional, contemporary, and emerging compositional techniques. The emotional essence of the spontaneous musical outpouring, captured by recording the original idea via MIDI, then preserved through orchestration, flows on to the orchestral performance of the completed work. The title reflects the sense of awe and power inherent in the music along with the profound impact of human evolution. Sapiens was composed after receiving the Western Sydney University/Penrith Symphony Orchestra Dean’s Award in 2021, and performed by the Penrith Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Paul Terracini, on July 30, 2022, at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith. Filmic brass chords are interwoven with a romantic string passage and a jazz-inspired ostinato. The title, alongside the strident yet sombre music, invites the audience to sit with an emotional sense of the impact of human evolution on our world.