"Vernal" is a deeply personal and emotional journey, exploring the complexities of love, longing, and internal conflict. A journey that starts in frustration and moves through moments of self-reflection, "Vernal" introduces the concept of flowers as symbolic milestones in this emotional transformation, using them as titles for some of the tracks. While the flowers serve as a metaphor for growth, blooming, and restraint, the work is not exclusive to this album nor this first draft—it's a glimpse into an evolving concept, one that may extend beyond this initial attempt.

With themes of quiet grief, unexpressed emotions, and the delicate nature of personal connections, "Vernal" invites listeners on an introspective journey, rich with complexity. The tracks pulse with energy and harmony, weaving through layered emotional landscapes. Each composition carries intricate, shifting harmonies that reflect both inner turmoil and a tender desire to communicate what cannot be said. The music is at once delicate and forceful, capturing the push and pull of unspoken love.

The listener is taken through a subtle, yet poignant exploration of what it means to offer something beautiful—whether an unspoken gift, a song unsung, or a quiet, unacknowledged gesture—while also grappling with the unfulfilled wish of being able to express admiration or praise. "Vernal" speaks to the space between what is and what might have been: a love not fully realised, a recognition withheld, and yet, in that absence, a profound, almost cathartic longing.

Bandcamp

Vernal (First Draft)

The final movement. "Clematis" is a cathartic release of all the emotions that have built up throughout the first part of "Vernal". A mixture of everything—frustration, love, sadness, and chaos—this track embodies the turbulent mind trying to make sense of it all. "Clematis" brings the sonata to a close with a sense of resolution, yet still leaves the listener with lingering questions, much like the emotions that have remained unspoken.

Vernal

Clematis

A sense of frustration and confusion unfolds in the opening track. The music swells with a feeling of being trapped within one’s own emotions—wanting to speak but not knowing how, or even if it matters. "Anemone" captures the delicate tension of an unspoken love, leaving the listener with a bittersweet understanding of the internal chaos that accompanies unexpressed feelings.

Anemone

The first movement of the sonata—fast-paced and energetic—begins with a sense of admiration and longing. As the piece develops, it evolves into something more abstract and chaotic, mirroring the internal conflict of loving someone from a distance and never having the chance to speak. "Nerine" speaks to the confusion of these feelings and the struggle to reconcile them.

Nerine

"Inchoate" serves as the introduction to the sonata, a blank canvas filled with possibility and potential. Inchoate sets the stage for the rest of the album, giving a subtle hint of the emotional complexities to come. This piece is still forming, a first attempt at understanding the landscape of emotion. It’s open-ended, incomplete, and waiting for something more.

First Part (Inchoate)

The second movement of the sonata. A moment of sadness and quiet reflection. This track moves at a slower pace, creating a meditative atmosphere that reflects the emotional weight of lost opportunities and missed connections. "Dew" embodies the inner struggle of watching from afar, trying to convince oneself that some things are better left unsaid—yet suffering from the silence, yearning to speak, to scream, but bound by the quiet restraint of unspoken words.

The third movement, a waltz, presents the feeling of happiness stolen—pride in another’s achievements, yet unable to fully participate in the joy. "Turgor" represents the tension between holding something back and the yearning to express it. It’s a dance of restraint, a reminder of the unspoken and unseen in the midst of outward celebration.

Vernal (First Draft)

Claire's Prelude