Program Notes

The Longest Night portrays the winter solstice, the moment when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun. Tremolos in the strings evoke shivering from the cold, while the bassoon and trombone’s air sounds mimic the howling winter winds. The piece ends ambiguously, without a proper cadence. The instruments gradually fade, leaving the piano suspended in an unfinished phrase and the bass drum’s deep resonance lingering in the air. Inspired by the uncertain ending of Christopher Nolan’s Inception, the piece reflects on how a single moment can have a lasting impact—though the solstice itself is brief, winter’s presence lingers for months.