[Prelude — (p) solo flute, soft harp arpeggio]
A single candle wakes the sleeping room. (9) [harp arpeggio]
Its wax a small pale moon against the gloom. (10) [flute answers]
A coastline at first light breathes salt and stone; (11) [strings, muted]
The tide remembers voices once my own. (10) [viola hums]
[Verse 1 — (mp) strings, gentle piano]
I trace the memory of a distant lamp, (11) [viola timbre as leitmotif]
A lantern-sheen that steadied every stamp. (10) [piano soft chords]
The candle cast a map upon your face, (10) [clarinet cue]
A coastline in the hush of early grace. (10) [strings sustain]
[Chorus — (mf) full strings, harp, muted brass]
Candle on the cliff—dawn threads the sea. (9) [short, clear motif]
Light keeps what absence tried to hide. (8) [motif repeats]
Candle on the cliff—listen: breathe with me. (10) [horns bloom]
(Repeat with variation:) Candle on the cliff—now I am tide. (11) [strings swell]
[Verse 2 — (mp) woodwinds answer, piano accents]
When quiet tightened like a tightened rope, (11) [bassoon low]
Your shadow learned the language of my hope. (10) [viola echo]
There rose a small revolt of salt and brine, (10) [pizzicato strings]
The coastline kept the ledger of our time. (10) [piano resolves]
[Chorus — (f) fuller, brass colors, chorus hum]
Candle on the cliff—dawn threads the sea. (9) [choral color]
Light keeps what absence tried to hide. (8) [strings lift]
Candle on the cliff—this light remakes me. (10) [woodwinds flourish]
(Second pass—development:) Candle on the cliff—become the tide. (10) [modulating upward]
[Bridge — (ff then decrescendo) modulating, solo viola]
(viola solo; then woodwinds answer)
A bell of ballast rings beyond the bay— (10) [viola plaintive]
It names the nights that drifted us away. (10) [clarinet echoes]
But see: the candle steadies, not to cling, (10) [strings tremolo]
It teaches how a single flame can sing. (10) [harp gliss]
[Recitative / Turning Image — (p → mp) piano solo, intimate]
Where tides erase the footprints, I will stand— (10) [piano single notes]
A keeper with a candle cupped in hand. (9) [breath; viola motif returns]
The coastline keeps its ledger but forgives; (10) [gentle swell]
The candle names the place where memory lives. (11) [soft chorus]
[Final Chorus — (ff → p) full orchestra then thinning]
Candle on the cliff—dawn threads the sea. (9) [full orchestra, bell]
Light keeps what absence could not bind. (8) [strings open]
Candle on the cliff—bright as a vow, as a plea. (11) [choral whisper]
Candle on the cliff—at last, I am your tide. (10) [orchestral release]
[Outro — (p) harp, solo flute, candle flicker in silence]
(viola hums the candle leitmotif; coastwind on the flute)
The candle guttered once, then learned to keep. (11) [viola diminuendo]
A coastline holds the quiet of our sleep. (10) [flute fades]
Hold the light: a small bright law, a little song— (11) [piano single chord]
And let the tide return the lost along. (10) [final harp plop
