A Songbird Dreams of Singing
soprano and piano
2026 (18′)
In the fall of 2025, I met with my friends and collaborators, soprano Audrey Luna and pianist Jonathan Korth, to discuss the possibility of a new song cycle. As all of us were new parents, we agreed that a “lullaby” theme would be most meaningful, and I immediately knew which texts I wanted to set to music.
Kate Hosford’s collection of poems, A Songbird Dreams of Singing, is perhaps the most-read book in our son’s collection, and my wife and I have read him these poems at bedtime since he was a newborn. Each poem, beautifully illustrated by Jennifer M. Potter, centers around how various animals and insects sleep: from whales that rest vertically to sloths who slumber upside down. The poems are playful and touching, in addition to being highly musical. I thoroughly enjoyed composing these six songs, each of which, like the poems themselves, is unique from the others.
These songs are dedicated to Audrey and Jon, and also to our spouses. Most especially, though, they are dedicated to our children.