Pierrot Lunaire, No. 18: “Der Mondfleck”

Listening to this piece instantly made me think of the silent film era, and inadvertently Charlie Chaplin. Silent films relied on their sound track to add to the viewing experience and was probably the hardest decision of the entire production. Choosing the right soundtrack was integral to the effect your film has on the viewers and choosing the wrong track could in turn ruin the whole film. This piece, a fast paced composition with multiple moving parts sounded chaotic and frenzied to me, not allowing for a moments rest or peace. Who better to represent such a feeling than Charlie Chaplin?

Charlie Chaplins film, modern times aimed to depict the struggle of surviving in a modern and industrialized world. Unable to cope with the unrealistic demands of the job, Chaplin spirals into comedic chaos, seemingly loosing his mind and senses along the way. The fast paced composition uses Sprechstimme, accompanied by various different instruments that play at a fast pace, separate from the voice. This adds an element of surprise and unpredictability to the composition. The scene from the clip, where Chaplin is desperately trying to keep up with the fast moving belt signifies this canonic treatment created by the various instruments. The music seems to be getting away from the vocalist and playing at its own pace, almost as if it has a mind of its own. The distinction between the voice and the instruments parallels the separate entities that the Factory and Chaplin are, highlighting their incompatibility. The piece also has a slightly comical feel to it which again fits right into Chaplins performance.

Krish Kapur, Financial Economics, CC’21