Mov. I: Moon tides.

Mov. II: Basooneando

Mov. III: The moon, the inconstant moon

Program notes:

Each one of the three movement of Night Songs can be performed independently or as part of the cycle. Moon Tides and The moon, the inconstant moon… are the sound world of  my reflections on our moon and its influence on our lives.  Moon Tides was written while I was living by the ocean and noticed the amazing influence that the moon has on sea tides, and sea living creatures. Basooneando has influence from the rhythmic sound world of Cuban music such as syncopations and polyrhythms that appear without grooves or repetition, contrasting with some more lyric sections. At times the darker sections and the timbre of the bassoon seem to become “nocturnal.” The moon the inconstant moon…  has connections with both the first and second movement’s contrasting characters and ideas.  It was partially inspired by Shakespeare’s reference to the inconstant nature of the moon in Juliet’s words to Romeo:“O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.” This composition was written for Adrian Morejon.