Sun & Moon: Eclipse Variation is a work deeply rooted in the concept of circle-music. This form of music embraces a structure where phrases can be performed in any sequence or timing, offering a rich tapestry of sound that defies traditional musical narratives. This new iteration reimagines a piece I first composed in 2008, offering a fresh performance map inspired by celestial mythology and the natural phenomena of eclipses.
Throughout history, the sun and moon have symbolized masculine and feminine energies—yin and yang. In Greek mythology, Helios (the sun) and Selene (the moon), who also lend their names to my cats, personify these celestial bodies. According to legend, a jealous Selene once eclipsed Helios, casting a shadow over Earth. This act was seen by some as ominous, and by others as a reminder of the eternal cycle of light and darkness.
This mythological tension is mirrored in cultural interpretations of solar eclipses across the world. From ancient China, where people banged drums to scare off a sun-swallowing dragon, to the Choctaw legend of a mischievous squirrel gnawing on the sun, and the Pomo’s tale of a bear arguing with the sun over who should move out of the other’s path—an argument that escalates into a fight, symbolizing the eclipse—these stories enrich our understanding of eclipses.
Today, we know that a total eclipse occurs due to a rare celestial alignment where the moon, though 400 times smaller, perfectly covers the sun due to its precise distance from Earth. Intriguingly, this phenomenon is not everlasting; the moon is gradually drifting away from us, predicting an eventual end to total solar eclipses in about 600 million years.
Sun & Moon: Eclipse Variation captures these diverse perspectives through a unique auditory experience. The composition, inspired by the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. It begins with a vibrant music representing the sun at its zenith, which is gradually overshadowed by a darker, mysterious music symbolizing the moon. For 3 minutes and 51 seconds—the exact duration of totality in Dallas, TX—the moon’s music prevails, enveloping the soundscape in a profound quietude. As totality passes, the sun’s music gradually reemerges, reclaiming its place in the sonic hierarchy.
Through this piece, listeners are invited to experience the awe of an eclipse, not just as a visual spectacle, but as a profound auditory journey that encompasses the mythical, natural, and scientific dimensions of this celestial event.
Sun & Moon: Eclipse Variation
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Tags: circle-music