four lullabies

for solo piano (c. 7'15")
​
1. sleep without waking
2. grotesque dreams
3. beautiful nightmares
4. like a dream upon waking…

Written in the autumn of 2016, four lullabies is a set of short pieces intended to conjure images of a sleep disturbed. The first two lullabies utilize short melodic fragments written in 2013 that I admittedly am too fond of to simply scrap. I reharmonized these sketches and integrated them into my current harmonic language, with the core of the harmonies being formed around the interaction of two pitch collections. The first lullaby is the only one with the traditional intent of a lullaby, meant for one who cannot take comfort in sleep. The second and third lullabies deal with dreams; dreams that are haunting, and nightmares that are enrapturing. The final lullaby is a chant that fades away like the sudden decay of a dream so poignant but suddenly gone.

Performed by Chelsea de Souza, piano.