Moon by Night

Jonathan Newman

Subtitle: For Band and Optional Chorus

General Info

Year: 2001 / 2004
Duration: c. 4:10
Difficulty: III-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Wingert-Jones Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $85.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon (optional)
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Baritone
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bass Drum
Chimes
Crotales
Glass Wind Chimes
Glockenspiel (extended range with high D-natural required)
Gong (pitched, middle C)
Marimba
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone

Choir (optional)

Errata

Flutes, m.38-9: The G can either be Fl 1 only, with Fl 2 entering beat 3 of m.39, or Fl 2 can play the G whole note in m.38, tied to a G half note in m.39, before Fl 2 plays beats 3-4 in m.39.
E-flat Baritone Saxophone, m.38: Should be a (sounding) B-natural, not a B-flat.

Program Notes

Moon by Night is a modular work, as it is performable as a work for band and chorus, band alone, chorus and piano, or chorus a cappella. The text is the King James translation of Psalm 121, and the title is an image directly quoted from the psalm. The theme of the work is not sacred, however---it should be more like a hymn-like tone poem; a simple, straightforward chorale with long unending lines, where the text serves only to create an evocative mood.

Moon by Night was premiered by the Sterling Municipal Symphony Band in Sterling, IL, on June 27, 2001, with Eric Whitacre conducting.

- Program Notes by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: UNLV Wind Orchestra (Tad Suzuki, conductor)
Audio CD: VanderCook College of Music Symphonic Band (Charles T. Menghini, conductor) - 2004

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

*Indiana University (Bloomington) Symphonic  Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) – 31 October 2023

Cleveland State University (Ohio) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Birch Browning, conductor) - 2 March 2023
University of Texas (Austin) Symphony Band (Clifton Croomes, conductor) – 30 November 2022
University of Lethbridge (Alb., Can.) Wind Orchestra (Chee Meng Low, conductor) - 20 April 2022
State University of New York, Fredonia, All College Band (Carrie Pawelski, conductor) – 19 November 2019
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Band (Kelvin Jones, conductor) – 23 April 2019
State University of New York, Fredonia, Concert Band (Ray Stewart, conductor) – 8 November 2018
Hartwick College (Oneonta, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Pease, conductor) – 9 April 2018 (Carnegie Hall, N.Y.)
Wartburg College (Waverly, Ia.) Wind Ensemble (Craig A. Hancock, conductor)– 24 March 2018
Gottschalk Music Center Concert Band (Merced, Calif.) (Matthew Cover, conductor) – 11 June 2017
University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) Wind Ensemble (Derek Southerland, conductor) – 25 April 2017
University of Illinois (Champaign) Wind Orchestra (Elizabeth Peterson, conductor) – 7 March 2017
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) University Band (Betsy McCann, conductor) – 23 February 2017
Central Winds: A Music Educators Wind Ensemble (Syracuse, N.Y.) (Stephen G. Peterson, conductor) - 14 December 2016 (2016 Midwest Clinic)
University of California, Los Angeles, Symphonic Band (Ian Richard, conductor) – 25 May 2016
Michigan State University Concert Band (David Thornton, conductor) – 6 October 2015
California State University, Fresno, Symphonic Band (Steven M. McKeithen, conductor) - 20 March 2015 (2015 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, Japan, - 2008 Summer Tour
Austin Peay State University (Memphis, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (Gregory Wolynec, conductor) – 29 February 2008 (CBDNA 2008 Southern Division Conference, Columbus, Ga.)
VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Charles T. Menghini, conductor) – 17 December 2004 (2004 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

3 O'Clock Mix (2012)
1861 (2004)
As the scent of spring rain (2003)
Avenue X (2005)
Blow It Up, Start Again (2012)
Climbing Parnassus (2008)
Concertino (flute solo, chamber winds, and piano)
Chunk
De Profundis
Moon by Night (2001)
Novel Romance (2018)
OK Feel Good
Pi’ilani and Ko’olau (2019)
The Rivers of Bowery (2005)
Single (2013)
Sowing Useful Truths
Symphony No. 1 (2009)
Tender Hearts (2019)
Uncle Sid

Resources

Ambrose, Robert J. "Moon by Night." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 6, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 388-397. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2007.
Jonathan Newman website.
Newman, J. (2004). Moon by Night: For Concert Band [score]. Wingert-Jones Publications: Kansas City, Mo.
Pease, Andrew. "Moon by Night by Jonathan Newman." Wind Band Literature. Web. Accessed 5 January 2018