The Styx
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Album Recording
Claire Edwardes (soloist) and the Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra. Conducted by Hoshimi Sakai (from Kammerklang Alpha) |
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YouTube Video
Video of the entire performance by the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, conducted by Brian Chatpo Koo |
Buy the Score
Programme Note
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.
Orchestration: Solo Perc, Fl, Ob, Cl, Bsn, Hn, Vln I, Vln, II, Vla, Vc, Cb
Performances of this work:
11 Oct 2016: Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra and Brian Chatpo-Koo.
28 May 2009: Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring the Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra and Hoshimi Sakai.
Featured in the April 2018 Making Waves Playlist Mythical Waves.
Programme Note
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.
Orchestration: Solo Perc, Fl, Ob, Cl, Bsn, Hn, Vln I, Vln, II, Vla, Vc, Cb
Performances of this work:
11 Oct 2016: Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra and Brian Chatpo-Koo.
28 May 2009: Music Workshop, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring the Kammerklang Chamber Orchestra and Hoshimi Sakai.
Featured in the April 2018 Making Waves Playlist Mythical Waves.