Kerry Lewis: Perchance to Dream for Double Bass Quartet

About the Composition

This piece – is my first composition for a double bass ensemble! – was written for my friend Zachary Hobin, a very fine string bass player who teaches at the Duke University String School.

The title refers to the famous quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1: To die, to sleep – to sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there's the rub, for in this sleep of death what dreams may come… In keeping with this passage, the first and last sections of the piece are appropriately slow and dreamy, with a somewhat more up-tempo middle section in between. I like the rich sonorities that are possible with four double basses!

I hope the performers enjoy playing this piece!

About the Composer

Kerry’s journey in music began in his hometown of Santa Rosa, where he developed a deep love for the art through participation in various bands, orchestras, and choirs. This early exposure to a wide array of musical styles laid the foundation for his future endeavors. 

He went on to earn his degrees in music from San Jose State University, where he studied under the tutelage of the eminent American composer Lou Harrison. Harrison’s influence is evident in Kerry’s ability to blend classical techniques with innovative approaches, making his music both timeless and contemporary.