This writing will focus on the comparison between the wind band and the choral version

of Eric Whitacre’s piece, “Sleep”, written around 2000. The two groups that are going to be used

in this comparison are the UNLV Wind Orchestra (c. 2004), conducted by Thomas Leslie, and a

choir personally hired and conducted by Eric Whitacre (c. 2010).

“Sleep” by Eric Whitacre is a chorale-style piece with modern and consonant harmonies.

Utilizing stepwise harmonic motions in the inner voices, Whitacre creates an ethereal and

relaxing piece. This is due to the amount of passing tones causing suspensions in the harmony.

The major development that does signify a change is when a held ostinato lays a foundation for

the rest of the ensemble. Whitacre keeps this harmonic language even as the piece comes to its

climax. After that, it reverts to the monophonic motion as the piece comes to a close. One of the

main challenges of this piece has to deal with timbres and tuning; any discrepancy within the

ensemble can go against the message of this piece, which will be covered later.

As for the ensembles, the original choir version has an advantage over the wind band

transcription. The answer to this is simple: the text. The text, written by Charles Anthony

Silvestri, portrays a person who is tired and is ready to go to sleep, yet cannot due to their active

mind. On the surface, seeing the text explain what the music is supposed to represent is good

within itself, however, a good composer who knows how to set their text well will make the

music enhance the text. For example, the transition to the second stanza (If there are noises…;

1:40) is highlighted by a single note in the tenors of the choir carrying through. This represents

the business of one’s mind whilst going to sleep. In order for the wind band to know where to

emphasize their lines, utilize their percussion, and where to breathe naturally, they would need to

know what the text is and how each note relates to it. The UNLV Wind Orchestra accomplishes

this.
 Overall, I love this work by Whitacre because it’s a subject that many people relate to.

I’m glad I got to take a look at it with a critical mind and with the knowledge I picked up in my

undergrad. I love the Wind Orchestra version too. Where it lacks in-text it makes up for in its

climax, as if the band pushes forward into a great burst of energy that one needs to finally let out

in order to go to sleep. If I were to give an analogy, I’d say the choir version is akin to someone

who has deep-rooted anxieties about their day and is haunted by it until sleep relieves them of

that. The band version, on the other hand, is more akin to someone who just had an amazing day

and is reflecting on it until sleep reminds them that it’s time to end the day and start anew.