by Eric Whitacre

Why this piece was written . . .

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

“Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” Whitacre

1. The Script

2. Musical Elements

3. The main idea/heart of this piece.

4. Concepts

“Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” Whitacre

Part 1:FADE UP

It 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 DESERT

A 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.

1. Story Line

CUT BACK TO BANDThe players finish off their third set and head for the

bar; outside we hear:SLOW ZOOM

Oh no, oh no, oh no, it’s:CLOSE UP

Godzilla! Glorious Godzilla!VARIOUS QUICK CUTS (stock footage)

Godzilla destroys cars, screaming tourists, etc.CUT BACK TO BAND

The band, quasi Greek Chorus, calls for Godzilla to Mambo.

GODZILLA, FULL FRAMEGodzilla mambos, casually crushing hysterical Vegans

without missing a step.EXTREME CLOSE UP

A tiny terrier barking bravely, then:

CUT BACK TO GODZILLADemolishing everything in his path… not even

the doggie escapes!WIDE PAN

As 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.

Part 2 FADE UP

A 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.

SPLIT SCREENAs they dance, the Elvi slowly regroup and head for

the:QUICK CUT (stock footage)

Pirate ships at Treasure IslandACTION 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!CROSSFADE

The lounge is open again, and the city of Las Vegas toasts the victory. The scene climaxes with:

VARIOUS CUTS (stock footage)People happy, tearful, ect. Stock footage,

stock music.SLOW FADE OUT AND FADE UP

A dark, ominous, and very familiar sound…SLOW ZOOM

Godzilla lives! Godzilla lives! Complete terror (possible sequel?).

WIDE SHOTThe Show is over. The End.

FADE TO BLACK

Form: ABThere 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.

2. Musical Elements

Harmony:Whitacre employs his “Whitachords” here. These are chords

with pan-diatonic clusters arranged in increasing to decreasing densities.

InstrumentationCalls 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,.

Melody/TextureDifferent 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.

EntertainmentEnsembleAudience

3. Main idea/Heart of the work

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.

4. Concepts