Before Sleep and Dreams, written for solo piano, depicts Aaron Jay Kernis' idea of what putting a small child to bed might be like. The piece contains many echoes of harmonies favored by Debussy and piano figurations favored by Chopin. Spiritually, its ancestors are works like Robert Schumann's Kinderscenen and Debussy's Children's corner, according to Kernis. The first movement, titled "Before," has the pianist play slow, quiet parallel fifths and fourths that sound almost bell-like, with occasional ascending scales added as flourishes. "Play Before Lullaby," the second movement, sounds very much like a Chopin scherzo, although the articulation is very soft-edged; the effect is at once gentle and fun. "Lullaby" follows, with an emphasis on quiet, repeating minor thirds and descending melody. Gradually the harmony becomes louder and more dissonant, until after a pounding climax the movement returns to the quiet, contemplative music of its opening. The brief "Light Before Sleep" uses the throbbing, repeating chords of minimalism to suggest the play of light from outside through a window and onto a bedroom wall. Finally, "Before Dreams and Sleep" recalls both the music of "Play Before Lullaby" and "Lullaby," but casts both in harmonies warmer and gentler than before. These lead naturally to the peaceful, magical ending of the piece, whose music gradually grows lower in volume and higher in tone until the pianist is plinking out the one-note, pianissimo melody on which the piece ends. Kernis never shies away from embracing the fantasy and playfulness we associate with childhood, and this piece is never less than charming and occasionally moving.



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