Before The Dawn

There is something special about the early morning hour before sunrise. Darkness gradually shifts to light. Vague and motionless shapes slowly become more defined. Gentle sounds begin to interrupt tranquil silence as the night fades away. Critters start rustling, and birds begin to announce the day ahead. The promise of a new day brings us renewed excitement – another chance to start again.

This modern orchestral piece for recorder is intended to match that special before-the-dawn feeling. From the start, a sense of dreaminess and pleasant mystery is evoked with woodwind trills calmly sustained over the strings' long-held chords. The soprano saxophone resembles a bird call – almost abrupt at first, but its repetitions eventually allow it to fall into the background. The piece grows, moving from calm and serene to more active and beautiful.

There are three main sections: beginning, middle, and end. Measures 1-18 imply suspension and anticipation. Our surroundings are still and dark with just the very beginnings of noticeable light present. As the light grows, things become more active. In measures 19-34, shapes and sounds gain definition. Instead of the long-held chords, strings now have momentum and movement. The orchestra becomes more punctuated and ostinato figures are introduced in the piano and woodwinds. Then, measures 35 to the end give us a sense of resolution. The sun is up, and things are fully visible. A new day has begun.

Your recorder players will need to listen carefully to the percussion in the first four measures to know when to start playing. While solo cello introduces the melody beginning at measure 1, quarter note cymbal taps establish the pulse. A steady yet gentle timpani marks the downbeat of each measure, with crotale on beat three of every other measure. Then, starting in measure 5, recorder begins and is reinforced with various instruments in the orchestra throughout.

Recorder notes from low to high are: CDEGAB. While the low C's are optional (substitute with rest), your players may welcome the challenge. If you choose to teach the low C, be sure your students know that this is the lowest note possible on the recorder. It can be motivating to them if they understand they are exploring the limits of the instrument. Also, be sure to see "Quest For Low C" in this issue of Music K-8 for additional help with teaching that note.

The recorder rhythms are mostly half notes and quarters. The brunt of the half notes are in the first half of the piece, and the quarter notes are in the second half. Most of the quarters are repeated notes, not steps or skips. This means the second half is similar to the first regarding finger movement, but more active/rhythmic with articulation.

If you would like to follow along, the piano/recorder score is available online, along with the recorder part for ease in duplication.