Song to the Moon (Dvorak)

from 'Rusalka'

This beautifully lush arrangement of Song to the Moon from Dvorak's opera 'Rusalka' is designed to be performed without soprano soloist. However, if you have voice faculty or a guest artist you would like to feature that has this aria in their repertoire, it works wonderfully to add voice.

Program Notes

This beautifully lush arrangement of Song to the Moon from Dvorak's opera 'Rusalka' is designed to be performed without soprano soloist. However, if you have voice faculty or a guest artist you would like to feature that has this aria in their repertoire, it works wonderfully to add voice.

Song to the Moon is an aria from Antonín Dvorák’s opera “Rusalka,” which combines elements from three fairy tales, Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid, Friedrich de la Motte Fouque's Undine, and Gerhart Hautpmann's The Sunken Bell. At this moment in the opera, the good-natured old Spirit of the Lake, Jezibab, is enjoying the singing of the Wood Nymphs, when his daughter, Rusalka, approaches him sadly. She tells him that she has fallen in love with a handsome young prince and wishes to become human in order to know the bliss of union with him. Deeply saddened, the Spirit of the Lake consents to her request, and leaves. All alone, Rusalka sings this beautiful aria, confiding in the moon the secrets of her longing.

Silver moon upon the deep dark sky,
Through the vast night pierce your rays.
This sleeping world you wander by,
Smiling on men's homes and ways.
Oh moon ere past you glide, tell me,
Tell me, oh where does my loved one bide?
Oh moon ere past you glide, tell me
Tell me, oh where does my loved one bide?
Tell him, oh tell him, my silver moon,
Mine are the arms that shall hold him,
That between waking and sleeping he may
Think of the love that enfolds him,
May between waking and sleeping
Think of the love that enfolds him.
Light his path far away, light his path,
Tell him, oh tell him who does for him stay!
Human soul, should it dream of me,
Let my memory wakened be.
Moon, moon, oh do not wane, do not wane,
Moon, oh moon, do not wane....

Recorded by the Florida State University Percussion Ensemble (John Parks, director) on their CD "Volume One."

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2005
Number of Players: 8
Duration: 7:00
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Type: Octet
Category: Percussion

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Instrumentation

Optional Soprano Soloist

Chimes/Bells
Vibraphone 1 (3-octave)
Vibraphone 2 (3-octave)
Marimba 1 (4-octave)
Marimba 2 (4-octave)
Marimba 3 (4.3 or 4.5-octave)
Marimba 4 (5-octave)
Timpani/Triangle