Dark to Light

Programme Notes

I wrote Dark to Light after discovering an old notebook that contained poetry written by my now-wife, Lisa, when she was a teenager. The words really stood out to me as something that would work well in a musical context. This is one of many poems I used when writing my two band albums, I Can See You and Strange Machine.

I feel that the three lines of poetry, which are constantly repeated throughout, are poignant enough to make the repetition meaningful. In a way, they describe our natural world, but they also represent darkness and light, as well as the transitions back and forth within one’s soul.

Orchestrally, the quartet was really devised as a trio. The electric bass closely mirrors the melodic contour of the voice, while the electric piano provides the harmonic foundation. The constant looping of the same figure by the marimba gives the piece a motoric rhythmic drive, which I’ve always appreciated.

– Frank Horvat

Lyrics

Out of blackness light must come
Out of darkness must come light
Only light can come out of darkness