Emergence is a natural phenomenon where complex structures and behaviours spontaneously arise from a collective of relatively simple elements. A lone ant might be insignificant but an ant colony is capable of building magnificent structures as a larger organism. A cell is only capable of accomplishing its relatively simple task but billions of them working together give rise to the intricate human body. Emergence is present anywhere we observe: from atoms to cells, cells to individual bodies, and individual bodies to societies. This idea is the primary inspiration for this piece, in which relatively simple motifs that occur in repetition work together to form more complex structures. I also took the idea of ‘emergence’ in its literal meaning as the action of emerging from something, represented by the recurring scalar ascents and upward-leaping calls. The piece is written during a time when the world is struggling to emerge from a global pandemic. I hope it provides the strength for us to push on, and serves as a reminder that some of the seemingly insignificant things we do are in fact vital for the very existence of our society.

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Emergence was commissioned by the National University of Singapore Wind Symphony (NUSWS).