Eric Whitacre

Note from Composer

Over the first six years of his life, I must have read Goodnight Moon to my son a thousand times, maybe more. Somewhere around reading number 500 I began hearing little musical fragments as I read, and over time those fragments began to blossom into a simple, sweet lullaby. I knew it was a long shot, but I asked my manager, Claire Long, to contact HarperCollins and see if they would allow the text to be set to music. To my surprise and delight they agreed – the first time they had ever allowed Goodnight Moon to be used in such a way. I composed the piece relatively quickly, setting the text for harp, string orchestra, and my son’s mother, soprano Hila Plitmann. I later created a version for soprano and piano and finally, SATB choir and piano.

This arrangement of Goodnight Moon was commissioned by a Consortium of choirs.

Lead Commissioner:
Una Vocis Choral Ensemble – Dennis O. Lee

Co-Commissioners:
Howell High School Chorus, New Jersey – Regina McAllen
Sintanada Music Education – Mrs.Yenny Wiriawaty Ng; Ms. Edeline Mawardi Tjandra
The Choirs of Barker College, Sydney – Peter Ellis
The Choirs of Gahanna Lincoln High School – Jeremy Lahman
Bellevue Chamber Chorus – Dr. Fredrick Lokken
Centerville High School Symphonic Choir – Ben Spalding
Middletown High School Chamber Singers – Gregory Bennett
The College of Wooster Chorus – Lisa Wong
Cedar Crest High School Chorus – Martha I. Pierce
San José State University Concert Choir – Dr. Jeffrey Benson
The Choirs of Columbus Academy – Amy Brooks
Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School Chorus – Mrs. Brandie Collins

The Text

In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of –
The cow jumping over the moon

And there were three little bears sitting on chairs
And two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse
And a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering “hush”

Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light
And the red balloon

Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs
Goodnight kittens
And goodnight mittens

Goodnight clocks
And goodnight socks
Goodnight little house
And goodnight mouse

Goodnight comb
And goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody
Goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering “hush”

Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere

Margaret Wise Brown, 1910-1952

Note from Composer

Over the first six years of his life, I must have read Goodnight Moon to my son a thousand times, maybe more. Somewhere around reading number 500 I began hearing little musical fragments as I read, and over time those fragments began to blossom into a simple, sweet lullaby. I knew it was a long shot, but I asked my manager, Claire Long, to contact HarperCollins and see if they would allow the text to be set to music. To my surprise and delight they agreed – the first time they had ever allowed Goodnight Moon to be used in such a way. I composed the piece relatively quickly, setting the text for harp, string orchestra, and my son’s mother, soprano Hila Plitmann. I later created a version for soprano and piano and finally, SATB choir and piano.

The Text

In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of –
The cow jumping over the moon

And there were three little bears sitting on chairs
And two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse
And a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering “hush”

Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light
And the red balloon

Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs
Goodnight kittens
And goodnight mittens

Goodnight clocks
And goodnight socks
Goodnight little house
And goodnight mouse

Goodnight comb
And goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody
Goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering “hush”

Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere

Margaret Wise Brown, 1910-1952

Note from Composer

Over the first six years of his life, I must have read Goodnight Moon to my son a thousand times, maybe more. Somewhere around reading number 500 I began hearing little musical fragments as I read, and over time those fragments began to blossom into a simple, sweet lullaby. I knew it was a long shot, but I asked my manager, Claire Long, to contact HarperCollins and see if they would allow the text to be set to music. To my surprise and delight they agreed – the first time they had ever allowed Goodnight Moon to be used in such a way. I composed the piece relatively quickly, setting the text for harp, string orchestra, and my son’s mother, soprano Hila Plitmann. I later created a version for soprano and piano and finally, SATB choir and piano.

The Text

In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of –
The cow jumping over the moon

And there were three little bears sitting on chairs
And two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse
And a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering “hush”

Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light
And the red balloon

Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs
Goodnight kittens
And goodnight mittens

Goodnight clocks
And goodnight socks
Goodnight little house
And goodnight mouse

Goodnight comb
And goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody
Goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering “hush”

Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere

Margaret Wise Brown, 1910-1952

Note from Composer

Over the first six years of his life, I must have read Goodnight Moon to my son a thousand times, maybe more. Somewhere around reading number 500 I began hearing little musical fragments as I read, and over time those fragments began to blossom into a simple, sweet lullaby. I knew it was a long shot, but I asked my manager, Claire Long, to contact HarperCollins and see if they would allow the text to be set to music. To my surprise and delight they agreed – the first time they had ever allowed Goodnight Moon to be used in such a way. I composed the piece relatively quickly, setting the text for harp, string orchestra, and my son’s mother, soprano Hila Plitmann. I later created a version for soprano and piano and finally, SATB choir and piano.

This Wind Ensemble arrangement of Goodnight Moon was created by Dr. Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant and premiered with the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project (WAWOP) and the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project (WYWOP). Dr. Mösenbichler-Bryant conducted the premiere in July 2017 with soprano Hila Plitmann and Eric Whitacre in attendance.

Instrumentation

Solo Soprano
Flute 1, 2, 3
Oboe
Bassoon 1, 2
Clarinet 1, 2, 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet in B^♭
Horn 1, 2
Trombone 1, 2, 3
Euphonium
Tuba
Double Bass
Harp
Percussion (Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Suspended Cymbal)

The soprano solo part can also be replaced with one of the following solo parts:

Flute
Oboe
Clarinet in B^♭
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Trumpet in B^♭
Euophonium
Violin
Violincello