Mackey: This Cruel Moon

[@shiraisasu]

I’m so lucky I got to be there to hear him explain this song! It’s really about The Odyssey of Homer, when Calypso got sent down to live her immortal life forever alone. This song is about a deep, overwhelming loneliness. For eternity. Think about that when you listen to this song, I guarantee you will tear up!

[@DreamlessSleepwalker]

piece*

[@clemenshenning5525]

@@DreamlessSleepwalker gonna cry over that, rather than over the piece/song itself?

[@donnadolson8089]

M

[@cefu90]

​@@clemenshenning5525I cry over both! It's a deeply moving and beautiful piece and it doesn't do it justice when we talk about song.

[@Insert_Name_Lol]

This was our second movement for this year’s marching season, such a beautiful sounding piece, so glad to have been a part of my school’s band through my high school years, I’m going to miss it when I graduate in may of 2025…

[@AdventuresInMyaLand]

The beginning part makes me cry every time the euphonium part is so beautiful I’m so glad I get to play that

[@WoefulCrowd]

My high school band played the second ever performance of this piece. It was both an honor and a pleasure.

[@WoefulCrowd]

I don't remember the date, but it was last year at Brennan High School. Our director told us that John Mackey wanted us to premiere it because the recording hadn't been released yet. I don't know how true that is but it's what he told us.

[@chantolove]

Someone else in the comments went to your school I think :0

[@bradfordwebster3181]

This piece of music brings so many different emotions out of me. Beautiful.

[@abbie657]

"you will never be as good as John Mackey"

[@yekcvke9213]

John Mackey, I just have such an adoration for your pieces of musical literature. You understand, so clearly how to weave together the musical properties of multiple instruments at staggered intervals, to the point in which it feels like you're whisked away into a pitch black sky, only for the darkness to be illuminated by thousands of millions of stars. And amongst those small, dim lights, is nothing more than a disproportionately ginormous mass; the moon. Such a beautiful lunar disc that becomes illuminated by the rising sun behind the earth, it's glorious rays shimmering past; causing the moon to burst into a vibrant pigment of white. However, as it does so, the Earth begins to shake as the ocean responds with abstract and vicious waves. They tear at the land, shredding any nearby rock formation with ease. And as the moon settles itself into a full bloom, the water begins to calm. Peace restores to the land as the sky is now illuminated calmly by that settling ball and it's smaller, yet ever so present allies. But even such a beautiful view cannot undo what its destruction has already caused. This cruel moon, however so beautiful, is only just one instrument of varying destruction and creation. It has no cognitive thoughts, no sentience. Just the ability to change however the universe wished it to change. Such beauty comes with a cost; a cost the world must bear.

[@georgesikorski9891]

Yekcvke 9 I... That's... Reflective... Damn...

[@takinoborudesu]

someone has synesthesia

[@shiraisasu]

lol it’s actually about Calypso

[@chantolove]

Get a publisher

[@acoasting8200]

What a take

[@jessicameza1100]

I love this piece so much. As a clarinet player in a wind ensemble, I love playing this piece. Your music gives me goosebumps!! Thank you for your amazing work!!!

[@sarahgalassini5188]

I love this piece. I love how Mackey rendered Wine Dark Sea into playable pieces lol, but it’s so beautiful. When he watched our live stream of us performing WDS live, he cried. It’s always been such a touching piece for me. I love your work John!!

[@ciaradom171]

Why hasn't he yet been asked to be a composer on some large scale movie project? His music would elevate any movie!

[@junejuly5967]

The course of true love never did run smooth.

[@yotuba9493]

This song reminds me of everyone I've ever lost to time. It's so painful to listen but it feels like this song is the only thing that understands me

[@Aisluin]

Some friends of mine played this in their first concert post-lockdown, and I've loved it ever since.

[@KevinDay]

There's a storm right now and it thundered right around 4:30. It was awesome.

[@KevinDay]

Aaaand then again at 6:20... louder... less awesome, more surprising.

[@jamesdaniel104]

@@KevinDay Mackey is just....that...GOOD!

[@chantolove]

Oh my god I’m so jealous. 4:53 would have been the perfect thunder hit time though

[@carterw70]

I played this piece before. It is such a beautiful piece.

[@StevenBidleman]

I'm am very grateful to have been able to have recently worked on this amazing piece with John Mackey and I love it.

[@dihydrogenmonoxide5994]

The devastating release at 5:03 after building for so long… ughhh it hurts so good

[@datmangotho9618]

we’re playing this for my high school wind ensemble, it’s SO tranquil and peaceful and gorgeous I’m so glad we’re playing it

[@UCCJGUY]

This euphonium and horn part is the truth! I hope I get to play this someday!

[@chrissygoxcrazy2900]

ITS SO GOOD

[@TheBandGuyy]

I’m so excited to be playing this for my after school band program. We’re sight reading tonight and John Mackey is going to be there! I’m excited to meet you!

[@advaitramesh164]

I had no idea dissonance could be so beautiful, especially dissonance that is frowned upon.

[@Liz-cc6gt]

dissonance can be so so so beautiful

[@elynnmassey]

my band sophomore year got to be one of the first bands to play this piece so our name is on the score and this piece means more and more to me every time I listen

[@ashleyjohnson61]

This song gives me all kinds of emotions. It’s so beautiful. 3:00 is where it gets me

[@joelsaucedo5607]

i love how this song feels so sustained, yet so precise

[@vardaanshah7167]

Lol this starts on the same note as October

[@littlepigeon6268]

playing this for my spring concert, first clarinet I love everything

[@jemstipher]

My college's symphonic band played this earlier tonight and I had to go listen to it again. Thank you so much for posting this score/video and for creating it in the first place.

[@jaustiinn]

This is one of the best pieces of music ever written honestly. :' )

[@evethetimewizard6502]

Perfectly captures how something as beautiful and joyful as love can somehow tear you apart in your solitude

[@gabrielecallisto]

Oboist here. This is true art. Thank you, Mr. Mackey.

[@alyssai9493]

I've this piece for an all region band and for a music camp and it is by far my favorite piece that I've ever played.

[@mtr062685]

This piece has really grown on me. There are moments where it reminds me of the Mass from La Fiesta Mexicana. Job well done Mr. Mackey!

[@georgehillstrom3006]

can we talk about that alto sax solo at 2:56 and all the way until 3:28 was just pure beauty! It literally gave me many tears rolling down my face. I really wanna do this piece right now but i don't think my director would because the band im currently in is called concert band and its sheet music level is based on grade 3-3.5 level music but if i audition for my high school wind symphony i badly wanna do this piece, because this piece has been my favorite of yours, but i think this is my #1 favorite piece by you. #2 and 3 are lightning field and until the scars. i've done lightning field for my 9th grade which was fun as heck!!! anways john mackey you're amazing because your music got me into loving band!!

[@nightcorestar5977]

4:20-5:10 always gives me chills

[@skwoodilydoo4057]

this is one of my favorite pieces of all time

[@martincamacho2244]

Played this piece once as Bass Clarinet 1st chair 2020 but covid killed our UIL. Never got the chance to perform this beautiful piece.

[@abriellisk3685]

I just played this for an honor band concert. It was truly moving and beautiful. Just listening to it makes me cry.

[@madelamee]

Playing this for my fall concert bass clarinet here!!

[@johnpcomposer]

Warm and beautiful music tinged with such deep sadness.

[@sylveonlover9297]

My marching band is playing this for our Second movement in our show next year!

[@shiprx]

what school?

[@advaitramesh164]

I almost cried toward the end. Well done.

[@majjspiritualbodycarearoma6508]

Beautiful piece .one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever heard in my life

[@davekayla1200]

I love this piece sm. we played it in the wind ensemble my freshman year, but I wasn't selected so I got to listen to my band play it during a festival and it sounded so pretty. the emotion u feel when listening to it is astonishing. I get chills every time

[@a.nobodys.nobody]

Wow, I feel completely alone but sharing a deep connection w the human condition and creative spirit.

[@寿司中毒]

I can see the cruel moon.

[@quentinm.williams9]

This song is so beautiful omg 😍♥️🌙 I recently played it for my fall band concert on second Clarinet 😍

[@tonyrosales8742]

Thank you for your great music Mackey.

[@bumblebeef952]

Gosh, I could sit and cry to this piece all day. So hauntingly beautiful.

[@KeithOtisEdwards]

I keep a list of living composers whose work I admire, because I think that acoustic music should not be limited to music of the past. John Mackey’s position on this list changes depending on how much I enjoy a piece of his. After hearing this, Mackey is back up at number 3.

[@Gusrikh1]

Absolutely beautiful….

[@paytonkempton555]

This is truly beautiful. I would love to conduct this with my future ensembles one day.

[@booperhero8982]

My honor band at band camp was the first band to perform this piece in our state.

[@Swuidward_]

Beautiful!

[@andymartin8162]

I have a new favorite. His name is John Mackey.

[@asaudio]

And the night before my grad. Here I am, to reminisce.

[@savvygurule1781]

I love listening to this song but I truly miss being able to sit in the middle of it. - High school clarinet player (who had one of the beautiful clarinet solos 😭)

[@deanhaynes3136]

This was a chop killer at honor band

[@martincamacho2244]

Also respect to all Bass Clarinet player's who had to play the last 14 measures i believe holding out 1 note with just one breath and decrescendo while keeping the note steady.🤧🤧

[@nigelroy1769]

Truly Beautiful!

[@perezgarridomusic]

What a nice piece of music!

[@geevanh4200]

HBD! ♥ Daniela Magálová (Daniela Alexandra Magal) ( 31. srpna 1966♥ SEMPER FIDELIS #QUA PATET ORBIS #JE MAINTAN DRAI ! ♫♪ great ♫♪♫♪♫♪☺ BRAVISSIMO @/bisbis 🎶🎵🎼 great music! a well tuned ensemble that sounds like an organ ! Fabulous banding! Compliments! #SEMPER FI #QPO #JMD🎵🎼🎼🎶🎵🥁🎺👌👌🙏🎺

[@TillisIsDone]

Have to learn this song in a week for all state band

[@haveibutifo]

I love this piece!

[@Jaymac720]

I’m playing this in the LSU symphonic band in a few days

[@ryancnvr]

Quite a ravishing and extraordinary piece.

[@alexmalkovich6750]

Is someone crying around the 5:10 mark in the recording?

[@andrewbowman2547]

Im crying around 4:50

[@chantolove]

It’s me

[@vebz_6872]

Who would've thought of all things an scp tale would lead me here. The song and the story give off a similiar vibe, not gonna lie

[@chantolove]

Which SCP? :0

[@vebz_6872]

@@chantolove it's a valentines day themed tale about When Day Breaks. It's called This Cruel Moon, just like the song

[@shawnpeterson1825]

University of Wyoming symphonic band will be playing this tomorrow 3/22/21

[@ManuelHernandez-ed3be]

Perfect

[@cgillespie35]

Playing this for mpa 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@jakecampbell5757]

An honorable discharge of moonlit breeze as cool as camphor on chafed lips..

[@cosmalad]

If this reminds anybody of Majora's Mask please say so

[@peteroselador6132]

Agreed

[@queerspaghetti6479]

I know this comment is from a year ago so sorry for the notification, but that's actually really neat if you hear a connection, as a few of Majora's Mask's songs are made to capture the grief and sorrow of Termina. It's "Cruel" that you have to experience everyone's misfortune over and over again. This song is about the grief and sorrow Calypso has to face, so that's pretty neat to hear connections of what "grief and sorrow" sound like.

[@goldenlost1761]

Gonna be fun

[@artlift3576]

thank you

[@strawbarely6367]

5:03 5:06 😤👏🏻👏🏻

[@naveho7292]

this sounds sort of like Movement 2 of Wine Dark Sea

[@luce.3560]

bruh

[@eboone]

read description

[@benjaminfrancis7850]

Is this from wine-dark sea?

[@JohnMackey]

Yes! It's a shorter, easier adaptation of the middle movement of Wine-Dark Sea.

[@spookiedukey]

Can we talk about how the marimba part just exista

[@ashleycarol5]

my school is preforming this (i’m third clarinet) and my band director is probably gonna cut me out of the song cause were too loud but this is absolutely beautiful and i️ don’t want to miss preforming it..

[@coloraturaElise]

I hope you learned how to control your sound better so you could enjoy it.

[@karlkitty456]

The trumpets at 4:30 give me chills every time

[@SketchartStudios1015]

The dark moon and its light.

[@tylerkashow8858]

This is literally the same as the 2nd movement of Wine Dark Sea

[@JohnMackey]

(click "show more" above and see that yes, that's exactly what it is)

[@tylerkashow8858]

John Mackey ah I see. Got it. Wine Dark Sea is the most beautiful piece that I have ever played or heard

[@sambitious]

John Mackey - This piece is exactly what I've been waiting for 🙏🏽🙏🏽. Immortal Thread, so Weak, along with the slower lyrical section of Aurora Awakes got me through some rough times. My gonna refer this piece to my high school teacher and hopefully we can play it. Lol my life would be complete. Edit: It’s three months later and I didn’t even ask my director if we could play this; we’re playing this at our next concert. My life is complete. Someone kill me now.

[@HyyahDemacia]

Tyler Kashow It's an adaptation with some notable differences that do nothing to detract from the beauty of this music. There are some things I miss from the symphony, but for a Symphonic band setting this is absolutely wonderful.

[@Sam83105]

jesus christ that release...4:48

[@hudsoncampos5976]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@tuba_gruber]

Anybody else notice the main motif is john cena?

[@chantolove]

DEAR GOD I CAN’T UNHEAR IT WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT

[@eboone]

how to unhear

[@holysmoke8439]

Darn I thought u were the singer for Omen

[@holic8309]

美しい、残酷なほどに。

[@williamjohnston2312]

Playing 2nd Clarinet at festival - wish me luck

[@literallyhankhill]

4:49 Climax

[@Inuosuwarii]

Is there a clarinet solo?

[@lemonlimekebab5064]

did you not see the first measure? lmao

[@Inuosuwarii]

PencilLead I can’t see when the font is like -20 on my phone, but yes now that I pulled up the score on my lap top I can see it

[@zaynemaddox2508]

To be fair the clarinet was not hard to hear

[@willlob1087]

Which band was it that was gonna perform this at Midwest?

[@karinajohanna3317]

will lob Wylie High School Wind Symphony

[@jfman0006]

Couchmen 2018

[@Sam83105]

for some reason my sister (a horn player) hated this song, and I don't know why. this may possibly be my favorite piece my Mackey, but them I'm also a flute player lol and the flute part has some ridiculously beautiful parts. idk. horn players, is your part boring? lol

[@a_default5895]

Horn part is not boring it is actually very well thought out for horn in this piece

[@justwhy9427]

Horn player here, kinda boring but we do get to do that signature horn blare(TM) during the climax which is pretty fun.

[@alyssar7477]

Idk y this is in my recommended but we are playing this song at my school and I need to learn and memorize it cause our concert is in 2and a half weeks and I know like barely any of it so yeah. I play marimba 1.

[@SketchartStudios1015]

This should be renamed to a funeral for a king.

[@anastasiat4433]

diontre boyce in my opinion that does not fit with what the piece is telling its about a tragic cursed love not death of someone who ruled just saying :)

[@jmabry62]

second

[@jmabry62]

Also I love your work

[@5476_qwerty]

3 dislikes?? Damn feminists!