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by Eric Whitacre

by Eric Whitacre. Why this piece was written . . . “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” Whitacre. Entertainment Piece “The performers are encouraged to go crazy: wear showgirl costumes, Elvis costumes, act out scenes on stage, use video and lighting – anything to get a laugh.” Whitacre.

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by Eric Whitacre

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  1. by Eric Whitacre

  2. Why this piece was written . . .

  3. “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” Whitacre • Entertainment Piece • “The performers are encouraged to go crazy: wear showgirl costumes, Elvis costumes, act out scenes on stage, use video and lighting – anything to get a laugh.” Whitacre

  4. “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” Whitacre • 1. The Script • 2. Musical Elements • 3. The main idea/heart of this piece. • 4. Concepts

  5. 1. Story Line • Part 1: FADE UPIt is a Bright and Sunny day as the sequined curtain rises on tinsel town, and the excitement of a new day filled with the possibility of The Big Payoff is practically palpable. The band kicks off the show in high gear and all is well as we suddenly hear: CUT TO DESERTA lone shakuhachi flute usher the arrival of something really VERY bad. CUT BACK TO BANDA relaxed rumba. showgirls blissfully jiggle. CUT TO MILITARY COMMAND CENTER (stock footage)Morse code signals the confirmation of approaching doom.

  6. CUT BACK TO BANDThe players finish off their third set and head for the bar; outside we hear: SLOW ZOOMOh no, oh no, oh no, it’s: CLOSE UPGodzilla! Glorious Godzilla! VARIOUS QUICK CUTS (stock footage)Godzilla destroys cars, screaming tourists, etc. CUT BACK TO BANDThe band, quasi Greek Chorus, calls for Godzilla to Mambo. GODZILLA, FULL FRAMEGodzilla mambos, casually crushing hysterical Vegans without missing a step. EXTREME CLOSE UPA tiny terrier barking bravely, then:

  7. CUT BACK TO GODZILLADemolishing everything in his path… not even the doggie escapes! WIDE PANAs Godzilla heads down the strip, searching relentlessly for: CLOSE UP (stock footage)Frank Sinatra (Stomped!) CLOSE UP (stock footage)Wayne Newton (Stamped!) CLOSE UP (stock footage)Liberace (Stepped upon!) VARIOUS CUTSThe Village Gods destroyed, Godzilla continues his carnage until the city of Sin is leveled.

  8. Part 2  FADE UPA fearless army of Elvises (Elvi) appear in the distance, formation marching through the littered streets VARIOUS CLOSE UPSThe Elvi attack, using bombers, missiles, ect. EXTREME CLOSE UPOne wicked laugh from Godzilla and the Elvi scatter like mice! QUICK CUT (stock footage)The Sphinx sits outside The Luxor, looking seductive in a Mae West sort of way. CLOSE UPGodzilla takes one look and his eyes pop out of his head. QUICK CUTSThe Sphinx (Sphinxtress?) seduces the Reptile, who instantly falls in love and begins to… WIDE SHOT…tango with her.

  9. SPLIT SCREENAs they dance, the Elvi slowly regroup and head for the: QUICK CUT (stock footage)Pirate ships at Treasure Island ACTION SEQUENCE (MONTAGE)The Elvi approach the dancing monster and launch a ferocious volley of cannonballs directly at him. QUICK CLOSE UPSThe cannonballs find their mark, and Godzilla: WIDE SHOTFalls to the ground, annihilated. The Elvi are triumphant! CROSSFADEThe lounge is open again, and the city of Las Vegas toasts the victory. The scene climaxes with:

  10. VARIOUS CUTS (stock footage)People happy, tearful, ect. Stock footage, stock music. SLOW FADE OUT AND FADE UPA dark, ominous, and very familiar sound… SLOW ZOOMGodzilla lives! Godzilla lives! Complete terror (possible sequel?). WIDE SHOTThe Show is over. The End. FADE TO BLACK

  11. 2. Musical Elements • Form: AB There is a Part 1 and a Part 2. • Tempo/Styles within: There are over 30 different tempos within the piece. Ranging from Mambo Furioso, Bright and Flashy, Tempo Tragic, Big Vegas Swing, Cocktail Jazz, Pesante, Allegrando, legato, Free and Rubato, Lisstesso, Broadly, Expressivo, Easy Swing, etc. • Rhythm: Different rhythms within different styles. Some tempos are at quarter note = 60 and others are at quarter note = 120. Thus, the rhythms reflect the tempo styles and range from easy half notes/quarter notes to difficult fast past dotted sixteenths/triplets swung in a jazz style.

  12. Harmony: Whitacre employs his “Whitachords” here. These are chords with pan-diatonic clusters arranged in increasing to decreasing densities. • Instrumentation Calls for : Flutes, Oboes, Bassoon, Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Bb Trumpet, Horn in F, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Piano, Mallet Percussion, Timpani, and 4 Percussionist parts. *Note: The percussionist parts are complex. They need: Bass drums, bells, bongos, chimes, claves, concert tom (1), cowbell, cymbals (crash, splash, and suspended), flexatone, glass/garbage cans, gong, lion’s roar, marching machine, marching whistle, mark tree, ratchet, snare, tambourine, tam-tam, timbales, triangle, vibraphone, and a xylophone,.

  13. Melody/Texture Different melodies are shown within each different tempo. The melodies are prominently played by a singular instrument group (i.e. just the clarinets or just the saxophones) and then the rest of the band accompanies them. *Each instrument does play a melody line at some point. • Additional Music Considerations: There is singing and screaming within the piece (kids must perform this in the correct rhythms). The piece is based upon an entertainment score given to the audience; thus, the band must showcase this by showing different styles/rhythms/tempo markings.

  14. 3. Main idea/Heart of the work • Entertainment • Ensemble • Audience

  15. 4. Concepts • 1. Recognize different styles of music. • 2. Recognize the types of tempos/rhythms within those styles of music. • 3. Percussion section. • 4. Students can recognize what a 20th style composition sounds like.

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