Dreams (2023)

Seven movements for piano trio (violin, violoncello, piano).

A note about Dreams for piano trio

I have long been fascinated by my dreams, as well as the dreams of others.  I frequently remember my dreams when I awaken.  Sometimes, it is not the subject of a dream that sticks with me so much as the quality of the dream itself.  My dreams are often surreal, combining elements and events that could never coexist in my waking life.  Yet during these dreams, I may accept these happenings at face value as though they were the most natural of occurrences. Objects and animals may appear anthropomorphized. Known people or things from my life can take on different forms, yet still be recognizable. The accepted logic of my daily life makes way for a new, unfamiliar order. My dreams provide me spaces to dwell that are fascinating, sometimes fanciful, sometimes frightening, or at other times comforting. 

Dreams for piano trio, as the name suggests, is a musical exploration dreams, of the otherworldly qualities of dreams, and of a few of the many themes that infuse my dreams.  Although each brief movement has a specific title, they are not necessarily “about” anything, so much as they are an impression of the quality of the dream.  I do not think of these movements as depicting qualities of “good” or “bad” dreams, although the movements often have an ominous quality about them. The predominant character of the piece is a shifting unsettledness.  There are familiar elements within the music, including traditional tonality and common structures.  Yet they are hard to pin down.  They have a floating quality to them, featuring irregular rhythms contrasted against strong repeated even beat patterns, and multi-tonal or atonal elements. Several of the movements favor a minimalist  approach (particularly movements 1, 3, 5, and 7), with special attention given to minute undulations and changes in each voice.

The seven movements are titled:

  1. Voile gently blowing at the window

  2. Beings familiar yet unknown

  3. Flying

  4. Fleeing

  5. Underwater, light filtering down from above

  6. Apparition

  7. Insect

G.G.R.