Sleep, My Child (from Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This arrangement captures the ethereal quality of the original theater piece while showcasing Whitacre's masterful understanding of band sonorities. The lullaby setting gives your ensemble permission to explore color and nuance in ways that standard concert fare often doesn't allow, and the harmonic language introduces students to contemporary writing that never feels alienating.

Gentle and suspended, as if floating in a moment outside of time. The orchestration creates a hushed, intimate atmosphere despite the ensemble size, with layered harmonies that shimmer beneath the soprano voices. There's an underlying tenderness that invites listeners into a quiet, protected space.

Concert bands seeking contemporary repertoire that's accessible without being simplistic, particularly groups aiming to introduce students to modern harmonic language. It works equally well for bands interested in programming works by a recognizable name or for directors looking to balance their season with a piece that demands musicality over technical flash.

• Shape the opening solos with a singing tone; treat the clarinet and flute parts as if they're literally lulling someone to sleep. Warmth matters more than projection.
• Balance the harmonic foundation carefully in the lower voices. These sustained chords carry the piece emotionally, so tuning and vowel consistency in the section are essential.
• Allow slight flexibility in the phrasing during the more exposed moments. Whitacre's music often breathes better when you avoid metronomic rigidity.
• Use the dynamic landscape to shape form. The piece unfolds gradually, so resist the urge to reach full volume even when the score invites louder playing. Restraint serves the lullaby concept.

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert exploring contemporary approaches to traditional forms, or place it alongside other works featuring prominent solo lines to create a cohesive first half. The piece works beautifully in a spring concert or as the opening number, setting a reflective tone that other selections can then contrast against.

• Sustaining warm, singing tone quality in both solo and tutti passages
• Listening for balance and blend in complex chord structures
• Responding to subtle dynamic and tempo variations
• Understanding contemporary harmonic language and how it functions in modern wind writing
• Interpreting musical direction beyond traditional tempo markings