When I compose a new piece of music, the original inspiration always arises from the poetry. Each composition begins by carefully studying the words, speaking the rhythms, and listening for melodies that will help to convey a story. I want singers and audiences alike to see themselves inside the music, guided by the melodies and the text as one. In “By Night,” I imagined a dark and mysterious night beckoning a young woman to experience a thrilling adventure. A galloping accompaniment leads our narrator beyond her familiar walls, while the soaring vocal lines depict her breathless discovery of a bold and beautiful new world. Because nature fills me with joy and peace equally, the contrasting middle section invites listeners into a moment of meditation through the “beauty born in its Maker’s thought.” Our heroine’s excitement cannot be contained, however, and the music rushes forth once more, painting a cinematic scene of wonder and awe.