Before the Dawn was written to open the Amsterdam Staff Band program Move of Hope. The work reflects the tension between darkness and the first signs of light, portraying seasons of pressure, uncertainty, and despair.
Fragments of the hymn tune I Need Thee Every Hour appear throughout the music as a cry of “I need Thee, oh I need Thee.” Inspired by 2 Corinthians 1:8, the opening is restless and dissonant, capturing the weight of struggle while holding onto the assurance that God’s presence remains.
Rather than fully resolving, the music intentionally leaves the listener waiting, setting up the journey that follows throughout Move of Hope, standing in the darkness with faith that dawn is still coming.