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I worked away at sketching the commission for marimba and piano all summer. Although something was done, in the end I felt that what I had wasn't good enough. The sketches were put away in the folder. However, I felt something has been in gestation all along. On Tuesday morning (Sept. 30th) I sat down at the piano and suddenly a stream of music came out and then onto paper. This was the basis of a first movement that was worked yesterday. On Tuesday night I had a dream that brought a melody. This has become the basis of the second movement. As I wrote the melody down I heard an introduction which fitted perfectly. Wednesday brought the beginnings of the third movement. It seems as if the piece is Sonata-like following on from the guitar quartet I wrote last year around this time. I always felt I could never subscribe to generic titles or, even, music that approached traditional forms. While this doesn't do that it does, in a way, have the credentials of 'sonata' which, in the 21st century, might mean anything. Whatever might be happening it feels right and by the weekend the sketch may well be complete.

In the gaps between writing, some flute practising and some further listening to the Cross and Keeling mixes. David wrote saying he managed to complete mixing the remaining two pieces which I look forward to hearing.