First Light

First Light is a work for string orchestra, composed for a concert in Clare Chapel, Cambridge, on 20 March 2025. The concert was organised by Thomas Alban and Colin Kang, conducted by Kang, and brought together some of Cambridge University's leading string players. The programme also featured works by Dvořák and Britten.

The work traces a large-scale journey from E-flat minor to D major, opening with shimmering textures created through extended techniques including aleatoric harmonic glissandi. Momentum builds through the gradual expansion and development of musical motifs, culminating in a fiery passage in 11/8 that drives towards the final arrival in D major.