Black Waves, Bright Moon

by Russell Wharton

Advanced Concert Percussion

12 Players

Instrumentation: 

• Glockenspiel
• Xylophone
• Chimes
• 2 Vibraphones
• 4 Marimbas — (2) low A, (1) low F, (1) 5-octave
• 4 Timpani
• 2 suspended cymbals, triangle, timpani, concert snare drum, 5 granite blocks (or temple blocks), 2 ocean drums, bamboo wind chimes, 2 China cymbals (high/low), high dry metal, tam-tam, key chimes, concert bass drum, 4 concert toms, sizzle cymbal

From composer Russell Wharton’s own words: “Black Waves, Bright Moon for percussion orchestra is a series of scenes with a cosmic-horror atmosphere. Inspired by the work of American author H. P. Lovecraft, and specifically his story The Shadow Over Innsmouth, the piece uses strange textures, ominous harmonies, and violent rhythmic figures to evoke the frightening world of Lovecraft’s fiction. Black Waves, Bright Moon tells of midnight rituals near the water, of strange towns with questionable histories, of inhuman sounds coming from the house next door, of great powers lurking deep under the waves, and the too-close moon that illuminates the things in the night.”

Players will work together and individually to create the various moods, sound effects, and scene changes occurring throughout the piece in service of delivering a unique, albeit slightly hair-raising, experience to an audience. There is certainly no shortage of notes for the performers to contend with but also a lot of space during which the listener must anxiously await whatever may be coming next.

Black Waves, Bright Moon ships as a fully bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for either printing or tablet viewing.