Both text and music for Silent Dawn were inspired by the experience of a winter morning, just before sunrise. In the midst of such moments, time seems to disappear – silence is overwhelming. I hope that the music recreates something of this timelessness, but not as a description of that winter morning. Instead, the music should act as a frame for the silence that we share at its edges.
Still, still this dawn.
Still, be still this dawn all with winter’s hush chill and new born snow.
Be still this dawn and cradle up this weary place with gentle light.
Still, still this dawn.
Still, though all I have known falls into shades of night.
Be still my soul.
Be still and love unfading know.
– Timothy Corlis
“One of the truly beautiful pieces presented in this program, Silent Dawn, is a composition by Timothy Corlis. The composer’s intent was to convey the sensation experienced witnessing a winter morning just before sunrise. The words and music create that sense of stillness and inspire the audience to feel the sense of viewing an ethereal sky. The Elmer Iseler Singers performed the piece as one would imagine the composer could wish–with an encompassing sense of peacefulness and calm. ”
– Valerie Giles, The Prince George Citizen
“A haunting tribute to the experience of a winter morning just before sunrise, titled Silent Dawn by Timothy Corlis, captured the spirit of that overwhelmingly still, silent time utterly and captivated the audience entirely.”
– Christine Pilgrim, Vernon Morning Star
“Quite and reverent . . . stretched and released the singers into utter peacefulness”
– Colleen Johnston, The Record, reviewing Corlis’ Silent Dawn
