Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

In Greek mythology, Hymen was usually described as a son of Apollo and a god of song. His name is given to the wedding hymn, known as the hymenal song, that is sung by the train of the bride as she is being led to the house of the groom. The reason for this association can be traced to several legends. In one of them, Hymen is depicted as a mortal who rescues a number of maidens from pirates. In gratitude, the maidens afterwards evoke his name in their bridal songs. In another legend, Hymen falls in love with a maiden who initially rejects his advances. It is only after he rescues the maiden from kidnappers and is rewarded with her hand in marriage that they live happily every after.

These tales remind us, albeit in dramatic fashion, that the paths that lead two people to commit their lives to each other are not easy ones to follow. Furthermore, trials encountered along the way should not be forgotten, but celebrated as testaments to the ardour and sincerity that binds the marriage. For this reason, for the opening section of Hymen's Response, I have tried to compose music that might suggest feelings of intense anxiety and trepidation. It is only after this section concludes that the music is allowed to become more tender and harmonious in nature.