Evening Reverence – Finding Stillness at the Duomo

Evening Reverence is one of the most intimate pieces on Portraits of Florence, balancing simplicity and emotional depth. While composing it came naturally, conceptualizing the piece was an entirely different challenge. The Duomo—Santa Maria del Fiore—is a structure of immense grandeur and historical significance. During the day, its vibrant facade of green and pink marble commands attention, but at night, the Duomo transforms. In the stillness of evening, its presence becomes more meditative, inviting quiet reflection.

Concept Development (1st of 10)

Capturing this transformation in music was daunting. The sheer scale of the Duomo—Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s bell tower, and the intricate marble patterns—felt overwhelming to distill into a single composition. My breakthrough came during a quiet evening walk around its base.

I realized that my most cherished connection to the Duomo wasn’t during the bustling daylight hours but in the peace of the night. The slow, meditative walks around its perimeter revealed an intimate side of the cathedral, where grandeur gave way to tranquility. This perspective became the foundation of the piece, shifting the focus from spectacle to stillness.

Composing the Piece (7th of 10)

Once the concept of evening stillness was clear, the music unfolded naturally. The composition begins with a soft, anticipatory motif, reflecting the approach to the Duomo through Florence’s narrow streets. Themes develop to mirror the cathedral’s varied facets: its towering walls, the interplay of light and shadow, and the awe of gazing at Brunelleschi’s dome under the quiet night sky.

Inspired by Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies, I stripped down my original motifs, embracing a more meditative approach. This simplicity allowed the piece to breathe, capturing the contemplative energy of those nighttime walks.

Final Thoughts

Evening Reverence is not about spectacle or history but about the quiet introspection the Duomo inspires in the stillness of night. For me, this piece reflects a deeply personal truth: the beauty of Florence’s most iconic monument lies not only in its grandeur but in its quiet power to inspire peace and wonder.