The Curious Light of Mister Moon A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music in the Composition Department of the College Conservatorium of Music by Dylan Sheridan B.A University of Tasmania May 2011 Committee Chair: J. Hoffman Abstract: An absurdist musical theater work for countertenor and percussion, based on the short stories of Japanese author Taruho Inagaki. Contents 1) Hello, Mister Moon – pg. 6 2) The Moon and a Cigarette – pg. 10 3) The Moon in his pocket – pg. 17 4) How I sobered up – pg. 24 5) On brawling with Mister Moon – pg. 30 6) Ton Koro Pii Pii – pg. 37 Percussion Instruments FM radio, FM transmitter, Vibraphone, G# Whirly, Low E Gong, a little brass bell, 3x Chinese Tom-Toms, Chinese “doing” cymbal, 5x temple blocks, xylophone, big cymbal, finger cymbals, little bell on a string, 5x Jars of Brandy, a few little rocks, flexitone, pitched wine glasses (A, A#, B), D# gong, hollow frog (or wood block), snare drum, several ceramic plates, hi-hat, chicken egg, low G# Gong i - FM radio, FM transmitter, Vibraphone, G# Whirly, low E Gong ii - Low E Gong, little bell, 3x Chinese Tom-Toms, Chinese “doing” cymbal, 5x temple blocks, xylophone, Vibraphone iii - xylophone, big cymbal, finger cymbals, Vibraphone iv - FM radio, FM transmitter, little bell on a string, 5x Jars of Brandy, a few little rocks, flexitone, pitched wine glasses (A, A#, B) v - Vibraphone, G# Whirly, pitched wine glasses (A, A#, B), D# gong, hollow frog (or wood block), ceramic plates, snare drum, hi-hat, chicken egg vi - FM radio, FM transmitter, Vibraphone, Low G# Gong Staging and Costume Performers may choose the extent to which they wish to include costume and staging in performance. The stage should be very dark and highlighted with blue ‘moonlight’ lighting. Props should at least include a worn couch upon which Mister Moon sits as he drinks brandy and tells his tale. Other Notes - In addition to the directions given, performers are encouraged to ad-lib movement about the stage. - Mister Moon is also required to play the cello, and the part has been written in such a way that a proficient musician with no previous experience on the instrument should be able to perform both parts. i - hello, Mister Moon mp Sitting back singing to yourself, pained, burdened and slightly drunken. Look down and around but .=63-66 q do not connect with audience Voice Full of the light of Mis- ter Mis- ter Mis- ter Moon Rubber mute Bow between bridge and tailpiece sul II & III Violoncello out of n radio sound q.=63-66 Vibraphone audience laughter, clapping (transmit track 1 FM Radio via FM transmiter. Whirley (G#) cresc. as you tune slightly in and out to either side of the station for c. 30") p Continues to play in background until end of (i) 7 Voice yes- sir yes- sir yes- sir yes- si- ree full of the light of Mis- ter Mis- ter Mis- ter Moon yes - sir yes- sir yes - sir yes -- si Vib. meld words into [u] spoken manic nonsence. Ad lib. 12 ...but I said, which in A.'s opinion It is a most "where oh where do butterflie ssleep?" "onastarlitnighta- Voice butterflyturnsintoadragonfly" is very serious indeed. astonishing and he said, How shall I put it? development ree! Vib. 20 with an eerie, shimmering vibrato (like a theramin) Tr. Solo [u] g# whirley (improvise softly and fairly slowly with these pitches) Vib. meld [u] into words becoming frantic 25 So I said, "wellblowthedragonfliesnose "BUT THERE AREN'T "There aren't enough stars?" Tr. Solo andwrapthefishinapapertissue" ENOUGH STARS!" There aren't enough stars! ... and he said, Vib. meld [u] into words meld words into [u] (becoming even more frantic) (deeply pondering the lack of stars) In A.'s opinion it's very im- it's very serious indeed -portant, becauseinA'sopinion, [u] g# whirley Vib. meld words into [u] (sit up with sudden realization) There aren't enough (etc. continue rambling about the lack of stars) stars!! there aren't "I'M A STAR..." enough stars!! [u] g# whirley low E gong Vib. vib f (Turn off radio) ii - the Moon and a cigarette q=c. 66 p stretch (operatic) 3 3 3 3 3 Treble one night on my way home from the ci ne ma I hurled a rock at Violoncello improv. tasteful grove Vibraphone with 3x chinese tomtoms & chinese doing cymbal q=c. 66little bell +occasional temple block Percussion p mf low e gong pure tone nasty tone p f 3 3 Tr. mis- ter Moon that rock went o- ver the chim -ney and pause ostinato restart ostinato Perc. f p 3+4+3 (lyrical, freely) Tr. struck mis- ter Moon as he was sing- ing a song (hum) pause ostinato temple-blocks Perc. e=76-80 (pale, eerie) 3 3 Tr. he flushed red with an - ger(rrrrr) the wa- ning mis- ter Moon's tail end chipped off "Now (bow below bridge just above tailpiece) grating, mournful cello n p vib. p restart, getting louder and angrier, add templeblocks & more cymbal (ostinato culminates in tamtam) Perc. p speech like (but not too much) p e=q like a nervous stutter 3 Tr. put me back to- ge - ther!" "I'm 3 tru- ly sor-I ry beg your par - don" play 5 - 6 random pizz. notes Vc. xylophone Vib. f Perc. q=e (pale, eerie) e=q Tr. "It's un- par- do- na- ble" "For hea- ven's grating play 3 - 4 random pizz. notes Vc. n p echo "put me back together" xylophone vib. Vib. p f p f Perc. rall. e=q=50 q=e (freely) p Tr. "No no no no nono no! Put me back to- ge - ther!" Mis- ter Vc. vib. Vib. p restart ostinato rall. p Perc. p 3 Tr. Moon looked un- for -- giv ing but in the end 3 Perc. leans back relaxed and lights up a cigarette. 3 3 Tr. tra- ded for- giv - nes for a ci - ga- rette solo Vibraphone 3 3 end ostinato p Perc. ppp iii - the moon in his pocket q=120 Cigarette drops out of mouth as Mister Moon is rudely awoken by xylophone. Voice (snap pizz.) cello cymbals f temple blocks finger cymbals xylophone f p f f f fp f fp Tr. Solo Mi -ster Moon was wal- king with him- self in- side his poc -ket on a hi- lly road his shoe - lace Vc. xylo. f p f p (drop pitch) fp f Tr. Solo came un- done he was ben- ding down to tie it when Vc. f xylo. f fp f p pale, eerie fp f e=e Tr. Solo Mis ter moon rolled out his poc- ket Mis- ter Vc. big cymbal Percussion to vibraphone xylo. fp f f p Tr. Solo Moon rolled out his poc- ket and down the slope he rolled Vc. Perc. p xylo. 3 3 3 3 Tr. Solo o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and * At this point Mister Moon rolls off-stage and out of the concert hall. His voice grows more and more distant until it has disapeared completely. Left on-stage in silence for a few moments, the percussionist begins n 3 3 3 (Mister Moon can again be heard, arriving on opposite side of stage) over- and o- ver and o- ver and *all players cont. repeating all parts until Mister Moon arrives on-stage and, exhausted, picks up his cello to joins vib. sus. finger cymbals Perc. f vib. p cresc. f 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Tr. Solo o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver and o- ver arco Vc. fwith heavy rock feel Perc. 333333333333 f vib. fwith heavy rock feel (exhausted) 3 Tr. Solo un- to the ends of the earth Vc. f f temple blocks Perc. f Xylophone vib. f Tr. Solo Vc. f vib. f p f f (excitedly) Tr. Solo Mi ster Moon ran af - ter Mi - ster Moon but since he was mov ing e- ver so (randomly placed pizz. ad lib.) Vc. vib. f Tr. Solo quick- ly the in -ter - val be- tween Mi -ster Moon and Mis ter moon grew (pizz.) Vc. vib. Tr. Solo far- ther and far- ther and far- ther and far- ther and far- ther and far- ther a - arco Vc. vib. 3 3 3 3 Tr. Solo .