Now There Was a Special Silence

Where Fermona evokes fear and anxiety, Now There Was A Special Silence continues on to the next part of the story, first exploring the new, alien space with a measured calm. At the midway point, after a slow descent, the music climbs back out, conveying an acceptance and resolve, and finally, a quick resolution, satisfying but not finished. This is a tale of a man divided. As one journey ends, so another begins.

Throughout the piece you hear ghostly noises, low and subtle, or loud and overtaking. As the calm of the final notes settles in, the ghostly noises become wild as they grow in numbers reaching a fever pitch at the final moment of the song. This explosive moment shatters into the next song, Breaks Upon, as it starts with a chiming bell that dispels the strain of those ghostly voices.

This song was an improvisation that I thankfully happened to record. I never actually learned how to play it because I was quite satisfied with the improvised performance. 

It has also been rather straightforward and effortless to produce, doubling the piano with a marimba to accentuate the percussiveness of the music, and lowered an octave to provide a bassy resonance.

The eerie, ghostly noises come from a wonderful virtual instrument called the Ice Choir, available for free at Pianobook. Christian Henson, founder of Spitfire Audio, made a fascinating video about how he created this instrument recording the sound of objects thrown and sliding along a frozen lake. I had to use this instrument and I don't think it could fit a song more perfectly.