Prometheus Icebound (2017)
Wind Band
I was commissioned by Harmonie Nautique to write this piece throughout the latter half of 2016. In the context of the ensemble’s location and maritime suggestions, I decided to make a symphonic fantasy based around Lac Leman.
Much of the musical material stems ultimately from the song ‘L’Escalade’, Geneva’s civic anthem, while much of the episodes are based programmatically on various sources associated with Lac Leman. The subtitle ‘The Sea of Stagnant Idleness’ is a phrase quoted from Lord Byron’s poem The Prisoner of Chillon (IX.249-250), set at a famous chateau on a different part of the coast. The atmosphere of the opening and ending sections alludes to the lake frozen over, as it did in the winter of 2011/12. Elsewhere, I have made attempts to portray the wind breezing across the lake, a brass fanfare to symbolise the sun’s rays glowing on the waters (which ends the opening ‘frozen’ section), and even referenced a possibility that there might be mythical creature roaming underneath the lake akin to Nessie!
Press and Journal article - 7 September 2017
PERFORMANCES:
Première: 9 April 2017 - Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland - Harmonie Nautique (dir. Eric Haegi)
8 September 2017 - The Citadel, Aberdeen, Scotland - Harmonie Nautique (dir. Eric Haegi)
9 September 2017 - Mackie Academy, Stonehaven, Scotland - Harmonie Nautique (dir. Eric Haegi)