Icarus (2004)
The story of the fate of Icarus is told here in a diptyque. The
fist part tells of the imprisonment of Daedalus and his young son
in a tower, having lost favour with King Minos. Unable to escape
over land or by sea, Daedalus fabricates wings made from feathers,
thread and wax so that they may both fly to their freedom. After
this introduction they take to flight, an unsteady rhythmic ostinato
propels the music onwards. Despite intermittent warnings from his
father neither to fly too high or too low, Icarus is defiant. His
youth and excitement cause him to leave the guidance of his father
and soar upward to the heavens. The nearness of the blazing sun
softens the wax that holds the feathers together, and they come
off. He flutters with his arms but no feathers remain to hold the
air - while his mouth utters cries to his father it is submerged
in the blue waters of the sea. The main theme, which until now had
represented the idea of flight, becomes the subject of Daedalus'
lament in the second part. A slow, funereal accompaniment underlies
the wailing tune as Icarus is consumed by the sea and nothing but
a few feathers are left floating on the water.
Work for solo organ
Duration: about 8 minutes / 14 pages spiral-bound with covers
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