The Night Ship

Piano solo published in Australian Women Composers' Piano Anthology. From the composer: The Night Ship plays with surges of sound – crescendo, diminuendo, extreme dynamics – with the mood ranging from high cries to quiet unsettled moments. From the editor: This highly evocative work begins with distant tolling of the ship’s bell and ripples in the water. As the ship gets closer, the waves get bigger and the mood become more menacing. In the middle part (bar 69-85) five very angry (fff) recitative-like statements represent a struggle that might be taking place on the deck. The spine-twisting crossing of the hands, with RH playing in the very low bass register, enhances the feeling of torture and suffering. The opening section returns with decreasing dynamics, until the ship disappears into the darkness of the night. The musical language consists largely of major sevenths, augmented octaves (minor ninths) and tritons. Extremely high/low registers add to the unsettled atmosphere, and brief moments of tonal writing only intensify the over-riding dissonance and discord. Long, but shallow pedalling will help to sustain phrases and create water effects.