The second of these two pieces was written first, for a recording project devised by my friend Martin Anderson who had asked various composers to write pieces in memory of his partner Yodit. Shortly after having written my piece, which I entitled Remembrance, I heard of the death of Peter Maxwell Davies, a composer who meant a lot to me in my youth.

I therefore decided to write a companion piece (Departure) whose somewhat sombre mood balanced the more wistful character of Remembrance. Together, the two pieces form a contrasted diptych of mourning and reflection.