Epitaph for Moonlight

"Epitaph for Moonlight" for SATB chorus. Music by R. Murray Schafer. Performed by University of Wisconsin-Madison Masters Singers, conducted by Jerry Hui. Lighting design: Jerry Hui. Video art: Evan Mayhew.

"Epitaph for Moonlight" is a piece written for youth chorus, sung on words that were made up by grade school children to describe the moon, and notated in graphic notation. The result: an ethereal and haunting soundscape of a cold moonlit night.

Working on this piece, I can visualize a dark night, decorated by blue stars, where a full washed-out moon takes over, shine over all things, and then slowly fleets away. My lighting design calls for any small portable lighting devices that choir members can come up with. Some movements of their light correspond directly to the score, while some others to each singer's individual part. Evan Mayhew, one of the singers in the choir, came up with a fantastic video art that plays off the music's narrative very well.

Hope you like it!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• epitaph
• moonlight
• moon
• graphic
• notation
• hui
• jerry
• masters
• singers
• madison

[ArtisticAtrocity]

I don't know if one of you will ever read this, but I heard a bc children's choir perform this piece at the suma cum laude festival in vienna, and I was very very impressed with the musicality, it was a flawless performance in my opinion. I really appreciated the theatrical element they've added and I wish i had a video of that performance. Bravo.

[jellioso]

@ArtisticAtrocity Thank you for sharing!

[arianaisthebest]

@ArtisticAtrocity I saw that performance as well, I thought it was really cool. The movement they added to it definitely made it both interesting to listen to, but also to watch.

[tartanmusician]

I'm not entirely sure what I just listened to.....but I think I liked it!!

[willable11]

so chilling

[EvenFilms]

Thanks, Jerry! I didn't know you posted this!