Proceed, Moon

Proceed, Moon: Fantasy for Orchestra is an orchestral composition by the American composer Melinda Wagner. The work was Wagner's third commission from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which first performed the piece under the conductor Susanna Mälkki at the Symphony Center, Chicago, on June 15, 2017. Wagner dedicated the score to Mälkki and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Composition

Proceed, Moon has a duration of approximately 18 minutes and is cast in a single movement. The title of the piece is a quote from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, though the composer noted that it has no programmatic meaning.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for a large orchestra consisting of three flutes, three oboes, two clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, two trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, four percussionists, harp, piano, celesta, and strings.

Reception

Reviewing the world premiere, Lawrence A. Johnson of the Chicago Classical Review called Proceed, Moon "a strong, audacious and compelling work," despite criticizing the score's duration and some of its effects. Alan Artner of the Chicago Tribune wrote: