Shhh... Don't Wake the Baby

A piece for percussion duo inspired by the difficulties in getting children to sleep. It depicts the parents' efforts to keep quiet while still trying to have a meaningful conversation at the end of the day. The marimbist and drum set player have playful conversations, each taking a turn shushing the other. The composition ends with a nerve-racking, tension-building moment when the baby is finally asleep and the parents can sneak away to celebrate. While the piece is highly programmatic, the music can stand on its own as a way to feature a marimbist and drum set player in a duo with room for the drummer to improvise.