Burton, Katrina (2006) Moon Palace I. [Composition]

Abstract/Description

moon palace I, composed in March 2005 takes its title from the novel “Moon Palace” by Paul Auster and is loosely influenced by the following quotation from the novel:

"I had jumped off the edge, and then, at the very last moment, something reached out and caught me in midair. That something is what I define as love. It is the one thing that can stop a man from falling, the one thing powerful enough to negate the laws of gravity."

Paul Auster granted permission for the use of this quotation.

Having suffered from tinnitus for several years, the opening pitches of moon palace I were composed while sitting at the piano one day exploring the sound of my tinnitus/inner ringing. From an initial rather delicate, graceful presentation of these pitches, the music intensifies rhythmically and dynamically, becoming more aggressive, emphasising the invasive quality inherent in tinnitus. A study at any one time of the pitches and rhythms present in my tinnitus can yield interesting results, the relationship between the sounds heard in each ear sometimes producing unison pitches or clashing dissonances. However, for all the fascination and intrigue, tinnitus can be relentless and disturbing, interrupting concentration and hindering sleep. moon palace I is an exploration of these two opposing elements.

In September 2005 an accompanying piece, moon palace II was completed for piano solo. Dedicated to my friend Wen-Han Yao, this work again is influenced by a quotation from the Auster novel and may be performed independently or alongside moon palace I.

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