H89 Marsyas Redux (2019)

Programme note:

ʻMarsyas Reduxʼ, for brass quintet, was written in Spain in the summer of 2019 shortly after I had finished a piece for viola and piano called ʻMarsyas-Apolloʼ, which delves in to the myth about the musical contest between the satyr, Marsyas and the god, Apollo. The contest was brought about by the hubris of the satyr who dared to think that he was the greater musician. Inevitably, Marsyas loses and is flayed alive by the god. The brass quintet uses some musical elements from the duo almost in an attempt to reconstitute the hapless satyr and bring him back to life. The piece is approximately 9ʼ in duration and is dedicated to the memory of my father.

SH
19 January 2022