Epitaph for Moonlight

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Description

"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!