Prelude for the Night of the Lunar Eclipse was inspired by the experience of sitting and walking along the beaches on Vancouver’s Point Grey. The waves of the ocean and tides are felt in the music: the piano’s rolling harmonies and in the long flowing lines of the cello. I didn’t realize it at the time, but all along I was a writing a piece inspired by the cycles of the moon, with its powerful gravitational pull affecting the ebb and flow of the Pacific Ocean.
During the recording session for Prelude, we were delayed for several hours because of unexpected noise that interfered with the process. We finally were able to begin recording shortly after 9:00pm on February 20, normally a very late hour to begin recording a piece that requires intense concentration. Just as we were about to record take one, Heather Dawn Taves asked, “What time is it? We should see if the full lunar eclipse is happening.” Without a doubt, there it was.
“Occasionally we find a CD that truly stands out from the rest, and here is one, certainly. Timothy Corlis is a composer of great depth and passion, not to mention a pristine, polished craft. The opening Prelude for the Night of the Lunar Eclipse, a post-impressionistic duet for cello and piano, draws you in compellingly.”
– John S. Gray reviewing the album NotesTowards,WholeNote Magazine, September, 2008
