Piano Concerto No. 4, “Arctic Symphony” is a musical reflection of an expedition I took with my family to Greenland and the High Arctic. The work seeks to capture the profound beauty and grandeur of the polar landscapes, the perilous conditions of the journey, and the exhilarating sense of venturing into the unknown. It follows the arc of our voyage, from battling relentless Arctic storms and towering waves, to the thrilling first sighting of Greenland through the sea mist, and finally to the awe-inspiring sail through tranquil, glacier-capped fjords.

Through my experience of synaesthesia, where chords evoke distinct colours and moods, I have portrayed the various landscapes and moments of the expedition with vivid tonal imagery. The piece is anchored by four foundational chords, introduced at the beginning and echoed throughout. The opening chord, D♭ major 7, evokes green, brown, and yellow, suggesting tundra lit by the sun, while its major 7th (C) suggests pure white, symbolic of glaciers and icebergs. The second chord, A major 7, conjures deep green and blue tones, reminiscent of sea and mossy terrain. The third, F♯ minor 7, brings yellow and orange, recalling sunlight reflected on Arctic waters. The final chord in this set, D major 7 (♯5), evokes a blend of red and purple, the colours of dusk and deep ocean.

The main melody, presented in various forms throughout the concerto, weaves between these tonal colours, painting the shifting Greenlandic landscapes. In the middle section, a vivid Arctic sunset is depicted: G minor (deep blue) and C major (bright white) combine to paint the sky, alternating with E♭ major (deep red) and F major (peach and light red), capturing the changing hues of the setting sun. As the music progresses to D♭ and then to A♭ minor 7, a rich mixture of purple, dark red, and deep blue, the listener is immersed in the stillness of dusk over glacier-lined fjords.

The piece ultimately returns to the opening theme and the key of D♭ for a dramatic and reflective conclusion, mirroring the expedition’s end and the emotional resonance of our Arctic journey.