Album insights
Max Richter, the British composer known for his re-composition of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, has created the longest single-piece classical music composition ever recorded. This piece, titled SLEEP, spans eight hours and aims to lull listeners into a state of sleep. Richter describes it as an eight-hour lullaby, exploring how music can occupy the mind when consciousness takes a break. Seeking insights into the brain's activities during sleep, Richter consulted the respected American neuroscientist David Eagleman during the composition process. With its substantial duration, SLEEP follows in the footsteps of musical pioneers such as John Cage, Terry Riley, and LaMonte Young. This lullaby piece also draws inspiration from a centuries-old tradition, starting with Bach's Goldberg Variations created for an insomniac count.