What Dreams May Come: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$13.00 USD

What Dreams May Come: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: What Dreams May Come: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6231S
Price: 13.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Erik Morales

Grade: 3

Item: 98-ST6231S

$13.00

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Inspired by the famous Shakespeare soliloquy from the third act of Hamlet, this compelling two-movement work portrays a vast array of emotions. The first movement, Dream of Life, uses long phrases, slow harmonic movement, and lingering suspensions to portray a peaceful sleep. The second movement, Dream of Death, is aggressive and highly rhythmic. Beginning softly, the movement develops rhythmically and harmonically until the powerful final chord. Intense!

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Series: FJH String Orchestra

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444562710

SKU: 98-ST6231S

More about this title

About the Composer: Erik Morales

Erik Morales has built a prolific career writing across classical, jazz, and commercial idioms since the mid-1980s. Based in New York and educated at Florida International University and the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, he has published over 150 works for wind, orchestral, jazz, and chamber ensembles that are performed internationally. His output reflects a deliberate commitment to bridging the gap between artistic substance and pedagogical accessibility, a philosophy that has made his music a staple in educational settings nationwide.

A trumpeter himself, Morales has made significant contributions to the trumpet repertoire; his trumpet ensemble works have earned first-place honors at the National Trumpet Competitions, and his Concerto for Trumpet in C premiered at the 2009 International Trumpet Guild conference. Beyond his own compositions, he works regularly on commission for schools and organizations, and in 2016 was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame. His career trajectory—from arranging for a high school marching band in 1985 to international publication in 2002—reflects a deep investment in music education at all levels.

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Why we love this

Morales has crafted a two-movement arc that mirrors the emotional journey of Hamlet's soliloquy without relying on oversized orchestrations. The first movement's restful suspensions and slow harmonic palette offer younger ensembles a masterclass in sustaining tone and phrase shape, while the second movement's rhythmic intensity and dramatic build reward the precision and confidence a Grade 3 orchestra can achieve. It's the kind of piece that sounds more sophisticated than its level suggests.

What to expect

The first movement envelops the listener in a dreamy haze of unresolved tension and gentle motion. The second movement shifts the landscape entirely, trading contemplation for raw energy and building to a cathartic release that feels both inevitable and earned.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 3 level looking for a festival or contest piece with literary depth and dramatic range. The work appeals to conductors who want to develop their ensemble's ability to sustain long lines and execute rhythmic sophistication without excessive technical demands on individual players.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the long phrases of Dream of Life by thinking through the suspensions as emotional peaks rather than harmonic waypoints; let each resolution breathe naturally before the next ascent begins.
In Dream of Death, establish a rock-solid pulse before you build the rhythmic complexity. Once your ensemble owns the foundation, the layered patterns will lock in convincingly.
Balance the opening softness of the second movement carefully; it should feel vulnerable, not tentative. Full tone on a quiet dynamic creates the tension that makes the final chord land.

How to use it

This piece works beautifully in a contest or festival context, where its two contrasting movements showcase your ensemble's dynamic range. It also pairs well in concert programming alongside lighter selections, functioning as a centerpiece that anchors a program with emotional substance.