Audio Sample
|
|
Performance by Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra, Claire Edwardes from the CD Selected works by AMC represented artists |
Selected products featuring this work — Display all products (2 more)
$POA
This item may be available to purchase from the Australian Music Centre.
Please contact our Sales Department to confirm pricing and availability.
$POA
This item may be available to purchase from the Australian Music Centre.
Please contact our Sales Department to confirm pricing and availability.
Score
The Styx : for solo percussion and chamber orchestra / Peter McNamara
Library shelf no. 784.3268/MCN 1 [Not for loan]
Display all products featuring this work (2 more) 
Work Overview
In ancient Greek mythology, the River Styx was the division between the land of the living and the land of the dead or the underworld, known as 'Hades'. This work is influenced by some of the features and imagery of this mythological river, its mystery and so-called miraculous powers, and its demonisation by many Christian texts that often describe the River Styx as a feature of Hell where those who have sinned are drowned in its muddy waters.
The first section predominantly features blurry musical textures, conveying an image of haziness and contrasts two musical ideas. These two gestures are three arpeggiated harmonic spectra and three arpeggiated sub-harmonic spectra, resulting in a contrast between clear high register textures and low register muddy coloured textures.
The middle section of The Styx portrays the miraculous powers that the ancient Greeks believed the river possessed. In Greek mythology the ancient gods were made to drink from the river when they had failed to follow through on a binding oath, resulting in them losing their voice. The middle section portrays this by using more brutal textures contrasted by sudden silences. The work's final section portrays the river's demonisation and retains much of the brutal atmosphere of the middle section.
Work Details
Year: 2009
Instrumentation: Percussion soloist, flute, oboe, clarinet in B flat, bassoon, horn in F, violin I (solo or multiple up to 3), violin II (solo or multiple up to 3), viola (solo or multiple up to 3), cello (solo or multiple up to 3), double bass.
Duration: 11 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Written for: Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra, Claire Edwardes
First performance: by Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra, Claire Edwardes at Kammerklang 2009 (Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music) on 28 May 2009
Analysis
Resonate article: Kammerklang 2009 by Kimberley Pearson
Book: The role of timbre and microtones in the music of Peter McNamara / Peter McNamara.
Performances of this work
11 Oct 2016: at Contemporary Chamber Music (Verbrugghen Hall). Featuring Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, Brian Chatpo Koo.
28 May 2009: at Kammerklang 2009 (Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music). Featuring Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra, Claire Edwardes.
User reviews
Be the first to share your thoughts, opinions and insights about this work.
To post a comment please login.