As We Sleep: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

The piece inhabits the quiet world of a lullaby, gentle and introspective, before gradually illuminating something deeper and more transcendent. It's the musical equivalent of watching someone surrender to sleep, their consciousness shifting into something both peaceful and vivid.

Intermediate brass quintets seeking repertoire that rewards musicianship without excessive technical demands. This works equally well for ensembles building confidence in lyrical playing or for programs wanting a contrast to fanfare-style brass writing.

• Begin with restraint. The opening needs air and space to breathe; resist the urge to fill silence with vibrato or dynamic pushing.
• Shape the build into the chorale section as a gradual collective decision, not a sudden shift. Each voice should feel its own arc into the fuller texture.
• Balance the quintet so that no single voice dominates during the lullaby material. Use this as an opportunity to listen across the ensemble rather than within your own part.
• Coordinate breath points carefully at transitions. Mark them in rehearsal and stick to them consistently so the piece flows without awkward gasps.

Program this early in a concert to establish an intimate mood, or use it as a palate cleanser between more energetic ensemble works. It pairs naturally with other contemporary brass literature that prioritizes lyricism, and it works beautifully as a standalone encore.

• Sustaining tone quality and intonation over longer phrases
• Blending in quintet texture without losing individual voice clarity
• Dynamic control through gradual crescendo and intensity shifts
• Collaborating on shared interpretation across the ensemble
• Phrasing lyrical material in brass contexts