Mythos - CBSN SOLO

Mythos
for solo contrabassoon
by Lynn Blake John - American composer

also available for solo bassoon HERE.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Lynn Blake John, composer, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.  She studied composition with Peter Williams, professor emeritus of music at the University of Wales in Swansea and studied music theory at the Guildhall in London.  She played the flute, oboe, and bassoon and teaches piano and music composition. 

ABOUT THE MUSIC

1. Icarus 

King Minos locked Icarus and his father, Daedalus, in the tower.  While imprisoned, Icarus learned the language of birds, their only visitors.  In order to escape, Daedalus asked Icarus to gather some bird feathers and wax to make wings.  He cautioned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun because the wax would melt.  Icarus loved flying and ignored the advice.  He fell into the sea and drowned.

2. Medusa 

Medusa was a virgin priestess in the temple of Athena.  Poseidon, the sea god, seduced Medusa.   Even though Medusa was taken by force, Athena was enraged and transformed Medusa’s hair into a coil of snakes and turned her into a monster whose gaze could turn a man to stone.  The great hero and son of Zeus, Perseus, beheaded Medusa.  Pegasus, the winged horse, sprang from her blood.  Perseus and Pegasus galloped off together.  

3. Orpheus 

Orpheus was a gifted musician whose music charmed all living things:  people, animals, plants. His music even entranced stones.  He was in love with his wife, Euridice, who was bitten by a snake and died.  Heartbroken, Orpheus followed her to the Underworld.  Hades decreed that Orpheus could bring Euridice back to the Upperworld but only if he did not look at her until they saw the sun.  Orpheus did not hear her steps and looked back at her.  She was thereupon lost forever.  Afterwards, Orpheus could only sing sad songs.

4. Prometheus

Zeus created all life on earth.  Although Zeus gave gifts such as flight and fur to animals he gave nothing to humankind.  Prometheus quarrelled with Zeus over this unfair treatment of humanity.  He stole fire from the gods and gave it to human beings.  Zeus was very angry since people now had their own power.  He chained Prometheus to a rock.  Each day an eagle ate his liver.  His liver re-grew every night and the eagle returned each day to perpetually torment Prometheus.

5. Pandora

Hephaestus, the craftsman god, created Pandora out of clay.  She was the first mortal woman.  Hera, Zeus’s wife, gave her the gift of curiosity.  She also gave Pandora a box which she said must never be opened.  Pandora’s curiosity got the better of her and she peeked into the box.  Out came all the evils of the world.  Devastated, Pandora asked, “What have I done?”  Only a tiny nightingale remained in the box.  The little bird sang, “Don’t cry.  I am hope.”