Inspired by Sylvia A. Earle’s 1980 National Geographic article of the same name, this work draws on her vivid account of descending to the ocean floor in her ‘inner space suit.’ Her descriptions of marine life and the surrounding abyss shape the atmosphere and structure of this semi-programmatic piece.

The choir acts as a shifting textural backdrop, slowly articulating the Latin names of deep-sea creatures, while the orchestra moves around it in fluid, wave-like gestures. Together, these elements create a dark, immersive sound world intended to evoke the mystery and stillness of the deep ocean.

The work was premiered in May 1999 at Church of St Mary de Castro by the De Montfort University Choir and Orchestra, conducted by David Lawrence.