With inspirations from Gospel and Broadway music, “The Moon Has A Face” is the result of fusing elements from both genres with my own style of composition. After reading Stevenson’s poem, I had to evoke this image I had of a singer in a golden dress walking out into an empty street at night akin to the streets of New Orleans with the bright, encompassing moon above her. Then, in typical Broadway-style, she would sing her heart out to the moon as it watched back and listened to her serenade, forever being a witness to her testament of adoration and gratitude.
1. The Moon Has A Face
For Soprano Voice and Piano Accompaniment
Text by
Robert Louis Stevenson
Music by
Christopher Nguyen
Duration: 8 min.
2019
2. Program Notes
With inspirations from Gospel and Broadway music, “The Moon Has A Face” is the result of fusing
elements from both genres with my own style of composition. After reading Stevenson’s poem, I
had to evoke this image I had of a singer in a golden dress walking out into an empty street at
night akin to the streets of New Orleans with the bright, encompassing moon above her. Then, in
typical Broadway-style, she would sing her heart out to the moon as it watched back and listened
to her serenade, forever being a witness to her testament of adoration and gratitude.
The Moon
The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.
The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.
But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Performance Notes
The piece is left open-ended in many places intentionally. This can be seen (or rather, not seen) in
the piano with the lack of sustain pedal markings except for specific places where the pedal is
indicated for certain colors. The pianist may pedal however they wish within reason in places
without pedal markings. What’s important is keeping the notes reasonably clear, so the pedal may
be experimented with in this regard. The soprano has several ad lib. sections where notes are
provided for starting the phrase and ending it, but notes in between are entirely up to the
performer. There’s also an optional note (A6) at the end indicated by parentheses and a small note
alteration.
—Christopher Nguyen