The Door of Good and Sad Dreams from Sleeping Out of Doors (1998)

Sleeping Out of Doors is a semi-concerto for piano and orchestra. Commissioned and premiered by Kristjan Järvi and Absolute Ensemble with soloist FangYu Liao, Merkin Hall, New York, May 5 1998.

II. The Door of Good and Sad Dreams—Adagio is the slow emotional second movement. It reminds of the music from TV's Twin Peaks for some reason. Note the contrabassoon and vocal-as-instrument in the background.

Sleeping Out of Doors in its entirety comprises the following attaca movements played continuously over approximately 15 minutes:

  1. THE DOOR OF DAY—Allegro
  2. THE DOOR OF GOOD AND SAD DREAMS—Adagio
  3. THE DOOR OF CONFUSION AND OBSESSION—Allegro & Adagio
  4. FIND YOUR WAY HOME—Cadenza
  5. THE DOOR OF DAY—Allegro

This commission was made possible in part through a grant from American Music Center and the Margaret Jory Copying Assistance Program.

Recording live at Merkin Hall, May 5, 1998.


 Absolute Ensemble Orchestra, Kristjan Jârvi, conducting:
  • winds 1-1-1-1 (w/ b. cl. & cbsn.)
  • brass 2-1-1
  • 1 perc. (kit)
  • piano—FangYu Liao
  • acoustic guitar
  • voice as instrument—Kitty Brazelton
  • strings: 2-2-2-2-1 (acoustic & electric bass)
Total duration: 15 min.

all rights reserved
© & (p) 1998, Catherine B. Brazelton & Snicim Vinahel (ASCAP).