Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure plays out as a piece of cinema. Each scene is transitioned by a narration from Dr. Watson as he takes us through the events that lead Sherlock Holmes through his final days… or so we think. The play is filled with suspense, mysterious circumstances, and the nostalgic wit of the famous detective.

I assigned each character an instrument and musical motif to begin the process of designing. I also stayed within a ten year period of the romantic era of music, specifically the 1890’s. Dr. Watson, the narrator of the story, needed a strong and constant motif. Each of his narration monologues were underscored by a cello piece. Strong and consistent. Irene Adler, the heroine and love interest of the story, is a renowned opera singer and her voice is the catalyst to the events in the play. Her music was often operatic and bouncy, giving way to the ebb and flow of her character as she navigates the men who hurt her, and the man she truly loves. The villain, and Sherlock Holmes’ ultimate enemy, Moriarty, was dark, mysterious, and evil. His moments of suspense and wickedness were underscored by the oboe. Finally, Sherlock Holmes was designated the violin for the unforgettable tie to his skill in the instrument and the instant unmistakable recognization of the violin in any piece of music it’s featured in.

Each piece of music was chosen to be integrated with each of the other character’s music. They were able to fade into each other and be compatable with any given moment in the play. This allowed me to play around with the lengths of the underscoring or the transitions as needed and allowed the characters to fit themselves easier into their world.

One of the last moments in the play includes Moriarty and Sherlock on top a path overlooking a waterfall. This was a fun moment to build because the water needed to underscore the moment, and continue building until the blackout as both characters plunge to their ultimate demise.