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Matin was composed in 1975 as a Christmas gift for my wife, Barbara. Although the title bears a close resemblance to the liturgical hour of Matins, the poetic definition of the singular form relates particularly to the song of birds. This short piece was revised in 1995 for my CD, Chamber Music, and appears on the disc in a performance by the late Scott Reiss of Hesperus.

A caged bird, beating his wings in desperation, provides the program. A commentary on the futility of war, with the third and final movement, one of hope: "Keep a green bough on your heart and a singing bird shall come."