only a dream... starts with the rising major 6th of a love song. The opening sixth of a Chopin Nocturne, or a Bellini aria, or perhaps an expansion of Tristan and Isolde's 6th not yet collapsed under the pressure of a love which cannot achieve its resolution. But alas, this major 6th may not know it yet, but it will not achieve that resolution either. These opening notes spin out into a love melody, searching for its resolution in the form of a song. When that resolution is supposed to finally arrive it is deceived, and delayed, and delayed, and right when it can be delayed no longer we are thrust out of the love song into the harsh world of reality, awoken from our love dream and made to question that perhaps love is only a dream... but love doesn't give up so easily. As the reality of life progresses the dream of love tries and tries to be reborn, only inducing more and more angst. Even so, love is strong, and though it may be unresolved, it lingers beyond the pain and dissonance that life has to offer.
