Abstract
'A Little Sleep' was composed for Tom McGrath, for performances and for inclusion on a CD recording of piano music by Anthony Ritchie. It was written with financial assistance from The University of Otago. The piece is in three sections, and they evoke a bedtime scene: a child listens to a music box while she prepares for sleep. Her parent sings her a lullaby and she drifts off, but her sleep is disturbed by a nightmare. This is the surface level of the piece, but it may be interpreted in various ways. Pedalling effects are particularly significant in this piece, which explores a variety of timbre. The three sections should be played without a break.