Luna Rossa

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Luna Rossa

Full Show

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  3-4

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  M/H

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  7:45

Composed by Rob Stein
Percussion by Maverick Peterson

Originally commissioned for:
Live Oak High School - Morgan Hill, CA

“Luna Rossa” translates to “Red Moon” or “Blood Moon”, which is a popular term given to the moon during a full lunar eclipse. Here, the Earth blocks all direct light to the moon from the sun, but indirect light still reaches the moon from Earth’s atmosphere. Due to atmospheric conditions, certain colors in the indirect light rays hitting the moon are filtered out, leaving a reddish hue.

1. Bella Luna (Beautiful Moon)
The show begins with mysterious high definition electronics setting the tone, followed by a beautiful flute and baritone solo exchange. Thick chords develop with extensions that stir both chilling and triumphant emotions. The first impact occurs as the sun sets and darkness arrives, and we are in awe of the beauty of the moon in its natural state. The rest of the opener includes major tonality features and a build to a powerful and jubilant ending.

2. Total Eclipse
A seamless transition from major to minor tonalities in the percussion begins the slow process of the eclipse. The baritone and flute soloists return, trading lyrical phrases with a mystical double time feel in the mallets. Tension slowly builds as the moon gets closer to its eclipse, bigger and bigger, until the total eclipse occurs with a devastatingly powerful impact. Ensuring the field is full of red here would maximize the potential of this moment.

3. Luna Rossa (Red Moon)
A dark, driving percussion feature starts off this movement seamlessly from the eclipse. Pit and battery are featured, leading into wind features that echo the melodies presented by the percussion. An intense multi-meter rhythmic passage with a transition into major tonality chords concludes this movement, with a direct segue into the closer.

4. Bella Luna
The eclipse begins to fade. Thick major 7th and 9 chords develop to a glorious, half-time impact that echoes melodies from the opener. From there, a double time tempo change drives us intensely to the end of the show as the moon returns to its natural color.