Luyten is the second installment in the "New Horizon" series, composed as the successor to the previous work, Centauri.

The title refers to Luyten, a relatively dim star located approximately twelve light-years from our Solar System. One of its known planets is believed to lie within the habitable zone, where conditions may be suitable for life as we know it.

In 2017, a musical signal was reportedly transmitted toward this planetary system as part of a search for extraterrestrial intelligence. If a scientifically advanced civilization were to exist there, it would truly be a close encounter with the unknown.
At one brief moment in this piece, listeners may catch a fleeting quotation of a familiar melody that evokes just such a meeting.

While rooted in the traditions of classical music, the work is constructed with considerable freedom. As in Centauri, it incorporates a fugal section and explores intricate polyphonic textures, while maintaining an emphasis on memorable, approachable melodies.

The piece ranges across the full compass of the piano keyboard, making it technically demanding and best suited to advanced pianists.