desh

Sleep

By Ethan Sperry

I honestly Say out of all of the pieces that Ethan Sperry Created...I would have to say this is the most challenging of them. The speed of the piece is crazy, I would even say the text is challenging. My choir will hopefully do this one of these days...

, the first time we tried we failed... and we are an advanced choir. I would say I love this piece, it's one of my favorites including, Jai Ho, Sleep, Lux Arumque, Nox Arumque, and of course the signs of the judgement. All very great, but none of them except Sleep was the same challenge. I hope this is helpful, and I hope alot of you that has a music program tries this piece out :)

We sang DESH in May of 2010. While initially practicing it in our choral group I had my reservations about the longer, very challenging fast part but, once we all knew it well, the initial section, mola (sleep), was beautiful and the later longer very fast section was very exciting...

and rewarding to sing. This piece takes a serious commitment to learn but is very impressive in concert!

"Desh" is a beautiful mix of classical raga and scales. It opens with the word "mola," meaning sleep, while TB act as percussion. It is slow, calming, almost mournful. The second part mimics the traditional Indian scales (like the Western solfege) where all parts compete. Voices imitate carnatic drone, while...

others dance around it. This piece is beautiful and playful all at once, and exciting to perform.