Black Waves, Bright Moon by Russell Wharton © 2024 Tapspace Publications, LLC (ASCAP). All rights reserved.
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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.
—Russell Wharton
• The two ocean drums should be placed as far left and right (and symmetrical to one another) as possible, creating a stereophonic effect.
• The ideal sound on the bass drum shell is bright and articulate—something softer than a wooden stick but harder than a cord-wrapped mallet. One suggestion is to use the butt end of a drumstick wrapped in moleskin.
Black Waves, Bright Moon requires 12 players with the following instrumentation:
1. Glockenspiel + suspended cymbal*, triangle, key chimes*
2. Xylophone + chimes, triangle (small)
3. Vibraphone 1 + bow
4. Vibraphone 2 + bow
5. Marimba 1 (low A)
6. Marimba 2 (low A)
7. Marimba 3 (low F)
8. Marimba 4 (5-octave)
9. Percussion 1 — ocean drum, bamboo wind chimes, 2 China cymbals (high/low), high dry metal, granite/temple blocks (share w/ P2)
10. Percussion 2 — 4 timpani, concert snare drum, 5 granite/temple blocks
11. Percussion 3 — tam-tam (share w/ P4), key chimes, concert bass drum (share w/ P4), 4 concert toms, suspended cymbal, sizzle cymbal
12. Percussion 4 — ocean drum, concert bass drum, tam-tam*, suspended cymbal*
*share w/ P3
Level: Advanced
Approx. playing time: 9’10”
for the Birdville High School Percussion Ensemble (Dr. Akira Robles, Director)
