When I first started composing I found myself making improvised piano sketches for fun. This wasn’t my primary interest but it was something to get the ideas flowing. I ended up writing a short piano prelude that was what I would describe as if Adagio for Strings by Barber and Prelude in E flat Minor by Shostakovich had a baby. After some years I was in between projects and I visited this piano prelude. I decided it would be a good idea to orchestrate it, I hadn’t done anything for orchestra yet so I figured this would be a great start. 

In the Darkest Hour can be seen as a vignette of what someone can go through in their darkest times. Starting calm and gradually increasing in intensity until its too overwhelming to handle. Ending with a soft lament to take in the oppressive apex of of the piece.