Within A Dream

Within A Dream was written to commemorate life changes, the the transformative power of bad experiences, and the peace that can come from embracing them. It serves as a musical journal of sorts, first articulating concepts of loss, grief, and futility, which then morph into acceptance, hope, and tranquility. The text is based on a particular favorite poem of mine, A Dream Within A Dream, an 1849 poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The poem explores the uncertainty of life and the power of human imagination. It follows two speakers, one trying to seize the moment and the other reflecting on their futile attempts at finding happiness. The poem is a Romantic take on loss and how life can sometimes seem pointless. The poem opens with the narrator reflecting on a dream and how life can seem meaningless. The second speaker addresses the perils of overreaching and trying to grasp the sweetest moments in life. The poem ends with musings on how we cannot prevent the passing of time, reflecting on the uncertainty of life, in a manner typical of Poes writing style. The poem is noted for its dark tone and its philosophical commentary on life and death. For this setting, the structure is backward. The opening of the piece is reflective, almost pensive. It is the aftermath of betrayal, and a sense of loss fills this section, as well as feelings of futility and frustration. There is a lingering sense of time mixed with the sweeping, lilting piano phrases. At measure sixty-five, the piece begins to turn with a somewhat painful acceptance that melts into a feeling of tranquility. The song grows from this tranquility, to hope, and finally to bliss as the character overcomes feelings of futility and embraces all life has to offer.