Before I Sleep (2022)

Program Notes

Sleep is an essential part of human life, occupying approximately one-third of our time. It allows our minds to rest after a long day of mental activity, contributing to our overall well-being. However, at times, we may find it difficult to fall asleep due to mental exhaustion and racing thoughts from the day. The causes

Program Notes

Sleep is an essential part of human life, occupying approximately one-third of our time. It allows our minds to rest after a long day of mental activity, contributing to our overall well-being. However, at times, we may find it difficult to fall asleep due to mental exhaustion and racing thoughts from the day. The causes of this can vary from person to person, but it often leads to restlessness and difficulty falling asleep. As someone who experiences this often, I understand the struggle of trying to calm an active mind before sleep. During these moments, I notice sounds more acutely, particularly the hum of the AC or the whir of a fan blowing in my otherwise quiet room. As a musician, my mind tends to focus on these sounds, making it challenging to find relaxation and to even fall asleep.

During certain nights, I become more aware of sounds due to heightened cognitive function. To create a comforting environment, I usually run the AC and a fan for background noise. However, my inner musician can't help but focus on the unique pitches and rhythms produced by these machines. Whether it's the hum of the motors or the clacking of gears, these sounds have a musical quality to them. In this piece I try to recreate these sounds through percussion mimicking the clicking of motors and air sounds from brass instruments, as well as sustained rolls from suspended cymbals and tam-tam playing part in recreating white noise.

At times, when one is dozing off with racing thoughts, they may experience half-asleep dreams. I can relate to this as it happens to me frequently. However, it can be distressing when these dreams take a turn towards the nightmarish side. It feels like experiencing a bad dream while being somewhat conscious. While it's not exactly insomnia, it can certainly be an unsettling occurrence. In this piece, I've attempted to replicate this sensation and also convey how a serene and hushed room can suddenly feel noisy when your mind is flooded with countless thoughts all at once.

Score/ parts available for purchase through Contact. Refer to the Catalog for Prices.

Instrumentation

Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes 

English Horn 

2 Bassoons 

Contrabassoon 

3 B♭Clarinet 

B♭Bass Clarinet 

B♭Contrabass Clarinet 

2 Alto Saxophones 

Tenor Saxophone 

Baritone Saxophone 

3 B♭Trumpets 

4 Horns in F
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone 

Euphonium
Tuba
Contra

Score/ parts available for purchase through Contact. Refer to the Catalog for Prices.

Instrumentation

Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes 

English Horn 

2 Bassoons 

Contrabassoon 

3 B♭Clarinet 

B♭Bass Clarinet 

B♭Contrabass Clarinet 

2 Alto Saxophones 

Tenor Saxophone 

Baritone Saxophone 

3 B♭Trumpets 

4 Horns in F
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone 

Euphonium
Tuba
Contrabass (Double Bass) 

Timpani
5 Percussion: 

1. Vibraphone
    
2. Chimes, Crotales
    
3. Large Suspended Cymbal, Large Tam-tam, Large bongo and Large Tom (as a set)
    
4. Large Tam-tam, Medium Wood Block
    
5. Bass Drum