The Tiny Dream of the Sea (Chamber Music, tuckamore festival, 2025)

The Tiny Dream of the Sea comes from memories of walking by the ocean, especially during my travels to Indonesia and the southern coast of China. I was always drawn to its fascinating scenery—watching the sun melt into the horizon, light shimmering on the surface, and waves breathing in and out. Beneath them, marine life moved gently, adding colour and motion to the stillness. These moments felt like stepping into a quiet, surreal dream.
The ocean holds immense life, but it’s fragile too. In many regions, overfishing and pollution have endangered species like the loggerhead sea turtle, the vaquita porpoise, the blue whale, and many others. Some marine animals even show remarkable artistic abilities. Humpback whales, for example, produce haunting songs that echo across vast distances, revealing intelligence and deep connections in marine life. These qualities are now at risk due to human activity. Losing them would not only reduce biodiversity but also close a window into a world we are only beginning to understand.
With these thoughts in mind, the piece begins with stillness, like the calm atmosphere of early morning by the sea. Gradually, it stirs: rhythms build, textures shift, and the ocean comes alive. But this energy carries a shadow—a mechanical pulse in Morse code, mimicking the cold, steady hum of machines, a sign of human interference.
Still, there’s light ahead. Nowadays, efforts to protect these ecosystems continue worldwide. The music closes softly, with the Morse code for “hope”—a quiet plea to care for the ocean, so its beauty can keep rippling into the future.