The Nightingale is a chamber opera that is complete in one act and lasts about an hour. It is written for 6 voices (S, S, S, M, Bar, Bar). The original scoring is for Flute, Cello, and two percussionists. This version replaces all mallet percussion instruments with a piano.

The story, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, centers around a well-liked but brash Emperor and his quest to have all of the most beautiful things. When the Emperor hears of the Nightingale, a bird rumored to have to the most beautiful song of all, he sends out the Chancellor to find it and bring it back to the palace. The Nightingale comes to court and amazes the Emperor with her song, but she is soon supplanted by a music box, the Mechanical Nightingale. The Nightingale leaves and the Emperor is furious, banishing her from the empire. Years pass and the emperor is on his deathbed, but before the spirits of the next world can take him away, the Nightingale returns and scatters the dark spirits with her voice.