for organ

approx. duration: 4 minutes

composed for Tom Bell

This Shining Night is a short organ prelude, taking its title from James Agee's poem "Sure on this shining night." Inspired by Susan Pilcher's dramatic night protography, the music traces the journey of an eye adjusting to the night sky, gradually discovering and highlighting little stars above. As the piece unfolds, the organ intensifies in power, embodying the majesty of the cosmos. Twinkling scalic motifs evoke wonder, while resonant chords suggest the profound sense of awe we feel in the face of the vastness of the universe.