by Eric 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
 1. The Script

 2. Musical Elements

 3. The main idea/heart of this piece.

 4. Concepts
 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 BAND
A relaxed rumba. showgirls blissfully jiggle.
CUT TO MILITARY COMMAND CENTER (stock footage)
Morse code signals the confirmation of approaching doom.
 CUT BACK TO BAND
The 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 FRAME
Godzilla mambos, casually crushing hysterical Vegans without
missing a step.
EXTREME CLOSE UP
A tiny terrier barking bravely, then:
 CUT BACK TO GODZILLA
Demolishing 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 CUTS
The 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 UPS
The Elvi attack, using bombers, missiles, ect.
EXTREME CLOSE UP
One 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 UP
Godzilla takes one look and his eyes pop out of his head.
QUICK CUTS
The Sphinx (Sphinxtress?) seduces the Reptile, who
instantly falls in love and begins to…
WIDE SHOT
…tango with her.
 SPLIT SCREEN
As 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 UPS
The cannonballs find their mark, and Godzilla:
WIDE SHOT
Falls 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 SHOT
The Show is over. The End.
FADE TO BLACK
 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.
 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,.
 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.
 Entertainment
 Ensemble
 Audience
 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.