Barnum.
Two of William Shakespeare's most famous lyrics are fused together in Moonlight Music,taking one on a seductive journey only music could usher. An introduction to Lorenzo'smoonlit bank of The Merchant of Venice opens the piece. The sounds of music creep whilemoonlight sleeps and the soft stillness of night becomes the touches of sweet harmony.Ferdinand's dreamy ode to music from The Te m p e s t overtakes the first scene. Also sitting ona bank, after following music's alluring strains over the water, he is filled with a fear that ithas stopped, leaving him alone and in silence. In a famous sigh of relief, he cries, No, itbegins again, after which Lorenzo returns on the bank filled with moonlight, allowing themusic to once again creep into his ears.This piece should be filled with a wide range of colors, exploring the whole palette withthese musical lines.
Eric Barnum
I am delighted to welcome Eric Barnum to my series with this skillfully wroughtblend of two famous speeches from Shakespeare plays: Lorenzo's ode to musicfrom Act V of The Merchant of Venice and Ferdinand's speech to Ariel in TheTe m p e s t . Linked together in this beautifully voiced setting, these unforgettable linescombine to reveal how music has the power to change our lives.
I suggest that conductors let the words guide the music, following Eric's tempomarkings but keeping the mood and the atmosphere as spontaneous as possible.The vocal sonoroties will complement Shakespeare's timeless images and will letthe sounds of music creep in the ears of the singers and listeners alike.
