Mythology Suite

Description

Flute 1, Flute 2, Flute 3, Flute 4, Flute 5, Piccolo, Oboe 1, Oboe 2, Oboe 3, English Horn, Bassoon 1, Bassoon 2, Contrabassoon, Clarinet in Bb 1, Clarinet in Bb 2, Clarinet in Bb 3, Clarinet in Bb 4, Clarinet in Bb 5, Clarinet in Bb 6, Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Horn in F 1, Horn in F 2, Horn in F 3, Horn in F 4, Trumpet in Bb 1, Trumpet in Bb 2, Trumpet in Bb 3, Trombone 1, Trombone 2, Trombone 3, Euphonium, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion 1, Percussion 2, Percussion 3, Percussion 4, Harp, Piano — Thexa0Mythology Suitexa0consists of three movements of myxa0Mythology Symphony,xa0which I arranged for large wind ensemble. The arrangements ofxa0The Lovely Sirensxa0andxa0Penelope Waitsxa0were commissioned by James Ripley and Carthage College for the Carthage Wind Orchestra’s 2017 Japan tour. I addedxa0Pandora Undonexa0to complete the set; Stephen Squires and the Chicago College of Performing Arts gave the premiere of the entire Suite in February 2017.Movement 1:xa0The Lovely SirensThexa0Sirens were sea nymphs, usually pictured as part woman and part bird, who lived on a secluded island surrounded by rocks. Their enchanting song was irresistible to passing sailors, who were lured to their deaths as their ships were destroyed upon the rocks.xa0The Lovely Sirensxa0presents three ideas: the Sirens’ beautiful song, an unfortunate group of sailors whose course takes them near the island, and the disaster that befalls the sailors. The sailors’ peril is represented by the Morse code S.O.S. signal (three dots, three dashes, and three dots—represented musically by short and long rhythms). The S.O.S. signal grows increasingly more insistent and distressed as it becomes obvious that the sailors, smitten with the voices of the Sirens, are headed for their demise.Movement 2:xa0Penelope WaitsThis quiet movement represents Queen Penelope, the faithful wife of Odysseus, as she patiently waits twenty years for her husband's return from fighting the Trojan Wars. Penelope herself is represented as an oboe. She is accompanied by the ensemble as she keeps at bay the suitors who wish to marry her and inherit her riches.Movement 3:xa0Pandora UndoneThis movement is, in turns, both lighthearted and serious. The music depicts a young, naïve Pandora who, while dancing around her house, spies a mysterious box. She tries to resist opening it, but her curiosity ultimately gets the best of her. When she cracks the lid open and looks inside, all evils escape into the world. Dismayed by what she has done, she looks inside the box once more. She discovers hope still in the box and releases it to temper the escaped evils and assuage mankind's new burden.