The Curious Light of Mister Moon

Home , FM (No Static at All), Vibraphone

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

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.                                 mister Moon that rock went o ver- the chim -ney and

pause ostinato restart ostinato

 Perc.        

 f p 3+4+3 (lyrical, freely)  Tr.                          struck mister Moon as he was singing 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 mister 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 pocket Mis- ter  Vc.               big cymbal

Percussion       to vibraphone               xylo.                                fp   f f p   Tr. Solo                           Moon rolled out his pocket 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.             fwith heavy rock feel    Perc.                                          333333333333 f vib.                 fwith 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 between 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                           part and lost sight of him- self in the mist far below.  (snap pizz.)       Vc.                        f                 vib.                         * very free, with a lot of space Rythmicized sections q=84-88 Succession of event otherwise iv - how i sobered up indicated through spacial notation. with a drunken swing

voice   One night p

Violoncello 

5" Percussion - fm radio drop rock into brandy little bell on a string tune and detune a little until  track 2 is found.(Runs in the  in a jar of brandy/water  background thoughout mvmnt)   flexitone n p

pitched wine glasses  (A,A#,B)     pp mp

  3           



 

Vibraphone                  3   p   2

f suddenly angry               I was wal kin' a- long sing-ing a song

cello  straight   (rubber mute)  

f (drunkenly)

small rocks in brandy  

Wine Glasses

 

straight       Vibraphone            p calmly 8"

p f    gently whistle a melody                  when I dropped in- to a well HELP!

plop bell into jar of brandy    (straight) (swing)                        I shou-ted and some- bo- dy took the trou ble to lo- wer  a rope

  cello    f

  Vibraphone     mp p hushed, cresc. straight pushing forwards (slight accell.) f slower (operatic)

                        I inched my way out of the mouth of a half- swilled bran - dy bo- ttle

flexitone  mp

wine glasses

    f



    Vibraphone 



 



    f attacca mp   Voice                 which i was dan- gling from one of my hands

swing  cello           p f

  f (frantically shake bell in and out of brandy) v - on brawling with Mister Moon

q=92 n Voice  

remove mute Violoncello  wine glasses whirley with wire brushes xylophone vibraphone snare drum                                 hi-hat mf  q=92 egg frog hollow frog  plop       jar of water  gong - d#    gong f spit words/sing aggressively  3  3 3 3 3 Mr. Moon                      I stopped in at a ca- fe a big ball of a fe- llow was drin- king a beer

    cont. ad lib. (on wine glasses only) with similar rhythms/pitches. maintain steady pulse. Perc. 

  mp 3 Voice       he said "you shoul- dn't

Violoncello   pp (ad lib.)                         

Perc.     

 angrily f voice               be here  you're two hours late!     Cello              ff 

(wine glasses ad lib.)               perc. "plop"     

          I said it's none of your damned busi - ness 'n he said if

(wine glasses ad lib.) (ad lib.)   

(gong)        mp  p f 3         Voice                        peo- ple knew they'd give you a thra - shing get out get out get                pp ff  (ad lib.)       

    sounds of a brawl faster

Voice  out!                                    Cello                         ff agressive        Whirley     f freely -contour should be loosely followed

smash plate cymbals, gongs w metal beater    perc.                         f 



                                    Vc.                            Vib.      perc.                            q=124 molto vib. 3 3                       While I sta - gered to my feet Mis ter Moon took flight

alternate unevenly rolled and unrolled notes 3 3                              (mallet ord. ) 3 mf (with mallet handle)      sim. (do not roll triplets) snare frog cymbal                           mp    



molto vib. 3 3  3 3 Voice                              i picked up my pis- tol andfired but he got a- way ree - ling as he

3                Vib.                       3 3 3  (with mallet handle) (mallet ord. ) (with mallet handle)

                           e=e     Voice             climbed the eas- tern sky    Cello,                                    f f f f    vib.    Vib.                                      (mallet ord. )     tamtam tamtam        snare  Perc,               snare       Voice             I got down on one knee, took aim 3           Vc.                                                            3 3 3                3 3               Vib.                                     snare         pp rubato, declamatory f  Voice                  Mis-ter Moon plumm e-- ted            Vc.                ff mp (bang!)

R.S  R.S  R.S   Perc.                 hi-hat   f f  (egg should spat on the beat) mf large tamtam 

           and ev- ry - one cheered bra- vo!    cello            ff  

whip

Perc.           ff ff ff (an awkward applause) vi - ton koro pii pii

 Treble Solo  

Rubber mute  Violoncello  

c.130"

Vibraphone   Play Track 3 Improvise using vib.and G# gong. Try to imitate the pitches you hear (A, B, C). Hold off using the gong until around the 30" mark. (The thrird gong signals end of improvisation.) Single notes as well as swelling repeated note gestures should be used. Do note use too many notes.  l.v low G# gong   mp (Third gong - end of improv) freely (q=c.60) p reflective mp distantly frantic      it was  a night like this "What did you say?"

 (Cello)   Bow between bridge  and tailpiece sul II & III    (Gong) p  l.v  p 

     "no doubt it was  a night like this" "What did you mean?"    (cello)    (Gong) Bow between bridge and tailpiece sul II & III  l.v  p n

        you picked up that rock

                 Vibraphone           (full of the light of mister mister mister Moon) p

D.S