Sketched in Australia in 1981 at a time when Gilbert was studying Australian birdsong-choruses, the completion of Dawnfaring's mixture of freely and conventionally notated material was delayed until 1984 partly by its companion-piece, 'Moonfaring'. The three movements of, as Gilbert called it, his 'Australian aubade for viola and piano' each refer to a different Australian bird. Throughout the fifteen minute work the music progresses from rapt stillness to a frenzied toccata whilst exploring a wide range of moods and colours.