Bedtime Stories

Violin, cello, harp, bassoon, clarinet, and percussion
7 minutes
2024

Inspired by the cult classic film Princess Bride; this piece enacts the childhood ritual of a bedtime story. From being corralled into bed, to choosing the story, to the reading, and ending with parental wisdom and a chat about the story. No bedtime story would be complete without a handful of interjections, scared pauses, and additional commentary. Each performer plays a role in the unfolding of this work. It starts with a duet between violin and cello; illustrating the chaotic task of going to bed, even when one is ‘not tired’. A story is chosen (I modeled the story section off of Robert Munch’s Paper bag Princess) and the entrance of the harp signals that we are moving from the parent-child telling the story, into the actual story itself. This is where the clarinet and bassoon come in, supporting the harp in the reenactment of the story. From here the piece works its way through meeting the prince and princess, the feats of a dragon, all the way to the happily ever after, with a sleeping dragon, and an empowered princess. Finally, the story ends and we move back to the parent and child, recapping the story and putting the child to bed. The violin and cello come back to the foreground with a duet coloured by percussion. The percussion does not have a designated role, rather it heightens the theatrical nature of the work. The vibraphone is an exception, as it represents the story time ritual itself, and helps drift the whole work to the end into sleep.