"Hagen’s clever jabs at the state of contemporary classical music as the weary composers struggled with their fussy newborn made for a little inside humor.

"[2] References are made by Hagen in the libretto to the couple's just having returned from a concert featuring music by Ned Rorem and David Del Tredici, among others.

Later, the music quotes Elliott Carter's Third String Quartet and several measures of Rorem's artsong, "Early in the Morning".

[3] Conceived both as a trilogy and as three free-standing skits, the first, Broken Pieces,[4] is charming and romantic, the second, Just for the Night,[5] is soulful and sad, and the third, Cradle Song, is warmly domestic and affectionate.

The vocal demands of the three female and three male roles are designed for young artist training programs at professional opera companies and at universities.