I think of the emotional arc of this choral piece as visiting the grave of a loved one while still in transition to a place of acceptance. The sacrosanct hesitance at the beginning of each verse gives way to a meditative repetition of tone clusters, followed by a short outburst of sorrow which then recedes back into meditative and fond remembrance. The third verse begins with the same hesitance as the first two but then propels into a deep, bittersweet cry at the peak of the entire piece, "Goodnight, dear heart,". After this outburst, we return to a texture of repetition. No longer meditative, these bittersweet repetitions constantly shift emotional weight: a heartbreak, a funny memory, a fight, a hug, their last words... the cadence however makes peace with that ambivalence. Ready to leave the grave physically, as well as to move on in our lives, a final "Goodnight" is sung.

Vocals by Dylan Trần and Journey Schaubhut
Album art by Emma Faye Waguespack

dear heart, - Demo

in letting go (rehearsal)

Dylan Trần (he/him) (b.1994) is an artist based between Vietnam and the U.S. who views music as a form of world-building, poignantly evoking nuanced atmospheres in a way that is both intimately expressive and boldly energetic. The Choral Arts Initiative described his music as “a confluence of styles… an entirely refreshing and distinct compositional voice.”

Born in a rural parish hospital, one of eleven children, and raised in a double-wide trailer in central Louisiana, Dylan’s first dream was to be a rockstar / actor / Pokémon trainer. At 14 years old, he put that dream on hold and joined his high school choir. Since then, he has been commissioned by HULU, the Oxford American Journal, TAAF, and more. He has conducted and coached ensembles throughout the U.S. and in Europe and has volunteered for music programs across the U.S. and in Vietnam. His original pieces have been performed throughout the United States and in France and Russia, and his arrangements have been performed in Australia, Austria, Finland, India, and the United Kingdom. 

Recent highlights of Dylan’s career have included the ‘22-23 Bouman Composer Fellowship (Cleveland, OH), a 3-month residency with the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation (Taos, NM), a 10-month recording artist residency with the Material Institute (New Orleans, LA), a film score commission from the Oxford American Journal (Little Rock, AR), and a shared commission with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra (Cleveland, OH) and New Music USA.

Follow Dylan on Instagram at @dylantranmusic.