Four Names for the One Moon

Abstract

The human being has always raised his eyes to the sky searching for the explanation he never found in his own life. And there She was. Majestic. Mysterious. Beautiful. Eternal. The Moon has witnessed our small dreams and will be there when time will forget them. Soma in ancient India, Ishtar in Babylonia, the Greek Selene and the Latin Luna. Four names for incarnations, gods and goddesses related with Her. Four Names for the One Moon.

This piece outlines the mystic aura that the Moon evokes, exploring in its four movements the musical possibilities of textural management, modal and harmonic flow and the use of colour. Soma is intimate, distant, sedating, a moment of contemplation (Aldous Huxley made an immortal reference to Soma in his Brave New World). A texture weaved with a different melody on every instrument. Ishtar is mysterious, passionate and charming. Grounded on a marimba ostinato, led by the viola. Selene is the distant perfection, the unreachable beauty; a modal chant on cello’s warm voice. And Luna; cheeky, playful. Lunatic. Different perspectives to only one universal feeling. Just for the vain attempt of describing the secret that may outlast us. And the Moon, in the sky, looks down to small our tribulations. And keeps quiet.

Four Names for the One Moon was premiéred by the Royal Northern Sinfonia at the Sage Gateshead, in full orchestral version, and by Mr Mc Falls Chamber Orchestra at the All Saints Church, Newcastle as part of VAMOS Festival.