Hope to see you all there tonight! Im posing some notes on the Britten below for those watching at home, I think it is helpful to know the story behind each movement. Program Notes - Benjamin Britten’s Six Metamorphoses After Ovid 1. Pan, who played upon the reed pipe which was Syrinx, his beloved: Pan is known as the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, hunting and rustic music, and companion of the nymphs. He is also connected to fertility and the season of spring. One of the famous myths of Pan involves the origin of his pan flute. Syrinx was a lovely water nymph of Arcadia. As she was returning from the hunt one day, Pan met her and tried to seduce her, but she ran from his advances. Pan pursued until she came to her sisters who immediately changed her into a reed. When the air blew through the reeds, it produced a plaintive melody. Pan, still infatuated, took some of the reeds and cut seven pieces (or according to some versions, nine), joined them side by side in gradually decreasing lengths, and formed the musical instrument bearing the name of his beloved Syrinx. 2. Phaeton, who rode upon the chariot of the sun for one day and was hurled into the river Padus by a thunderbolt: Phaethon (whose name means “Shining One”) went to his father to seek proof that he was, in fact, the Sun God. Phaethon requested to drive the chariot of the sun for a day. Phoebus tried to talk him out of it by telling him that not even Jupiter (the king of the gods) would dare to drive it, as the chariot was fiery hot and the horses breathed out flames. However Phaethon was adamant. When the day came, the fierce horses that drew the chariot felt that it was empty because of the lack of the sun gods weight, and went out of control. Terrified, Phaethon dropped the reins. The Sun God was forced to intervene in order to save the Earth from the falling chariot, therefore he hurled Phaeton into the river. 3. Niobe, who, lamenting the death of her fourteen children, was turned into a mountain: Niobe boasted of her fourteen children, (seven male and seven female) to Leto who only had two children, the twins Apollo and Artemis. Leto was indignant, and sent Apollo and Artemis to kill Niobe’s children. Devastated, Niobe fled to Mount Sipylus and was turned into stone. As she wept unceasingly, waters started to pour from her petrified complexion. Mount Sipylus indeed has a natural rock formation which resembles a female face, and it has been associated with Niobe since ancient times. The rock formation is also known as the Weeping Rock since rainwater seeps through its porous limestone. 4. Bacchus, at whose feasts is heard the noise of gaggling womens tattling tongues and shouting out of boys: Bacchus is usually known by his more common name, Dionysus. However, the name Bacchus comes from the Greek bakkheia, and is the root of “Bacchanalia” – a Roman cult festival that is a little too raunchy to be described here in great detail. Instead I will pass along some of my favorite advice that was given to me about the performance of this piece: “Take a shot at every rest!” 5. Narcissus, who fell in love with his own image and became a flower: There are many versions of the story of Narcissus. In Ovid’s version: Narcissus was walking in the woods when Echo, (a mountain nymph) saw him, fell deeply in love, and followed him. Narcissus sensed he was being followed and shouted, Whos there?” Echo repeated, Whos there?” She eventually revealed her identity and attempted to embrace him, but he rejected her. Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, learned of this story and decided to punish Narcissus. She lured him to a pool where he saw his own reflection and fell in love with it. 6. Arethusa, who, flying from the love of Alpheus the river god, was turned into a fountain: Arethusa means “the waterer.” According to Ovid, the myth of her transformation begins when she came across a clear stream and began bathing, not knowing it was the river god Alpheus. He fell in love during their encounter, but she fled after discovering his presence and intentions, as she wished to remain a chaste attendant of Artemis. After a long chase, she prayed to her goddess for protection. Artemis hid her in a cloud, but Alpheus was persistent. She began to perspire profusely from fear, and soon transformed into a stream. Artemis then broke the ground allowing Arethusa another attempt to flee. Her stream traveled under the earth to the island of Ortygia, but Alpheus flowed through the sea to reach her and mingle with her waters. Eventually she became a fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 14:35:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015