The piano’s opening gesture in Sparks Descending quickly branches into a few alternate motives, out of which interweaving melodic lines of increasing urgency form. A soft low note in the piano brings these to an abrupt stop, replacing the dense activity with an austere, cavernous texture. But soon, the opening texture begins to reform, this time building from a heavier, darker foundation. Once again, at its peak of intensity, a low note from the piano cuts it off, this time leading to a more extensive closing section of solemnly sinking lines and fragmented memories of the preceding section. Sparks Descending was composed for
Kylwyria.