Berceuse was composed in the winter of 1995. A berceuse is a simply an instrumental composition in the style of a lullaby. The title comes from the French verb bercer,' meaning to rock.' It was my intention for the rhythmic accompaniment in the piano to represent the rocking motion of a rocking chair as the mother rocks her baby to sleep. The dreamy Lydian-based melody should flow over top the persistent rocking' of the piano.
Donald W. Sorah is currently a Staff Instructor in Music at the University of Virginia's College at Wise in Wise, Virginia where he teaches courses in Music Technology, private trumpet, and directs the Brass Ensembles and Jazz Ensembles. Mr. Sorah also teaches music courses at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Prior to his positions at the college level, he taught high school and middle school band for seven years. He earned both his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Degrees from Morehead State University in Kentucky. His compositions have been performed by the Indianapolis Brass Choir, J.J. Kelly High School Brass Ensemble and Woodwind Ensemble, and the University of Virginia's College at Wise Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, and Trumpet Ensemble.
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