My first thought, in responding to the Auckland Philharmonia's commission for a piece to open a programme, was to write something that would "take off". The opening ideas – a call to attention which builds to release a rushing-away line – followed from this. The elements of this opening – the three repeated notes, the falling bass-line and the scurrying string figures – provide the material from which the rest of the piece grows.
The strong contrasts of the opening, however, continue throughout the movement with frequent surprises as textures and surface rhythms change – sometimes surging forward, sometimes held back. But behind this is the steady one-in-a-bar beat of the classical scherzo, providing a background rhythmic continuity to tie the surface contrasts together.
Looking for a title, I considered descriptive phrases such as "like the wind", but decided to remain with the traditional Scherzo and to let listeners make their own reactions.
