w18880
| Title | Song of Leda, The, Op 55 |
| Contributors |
John McLeod (composer) |
| Composition date | 2010 |
| Duration (mins) | 0 |
| Category | instrumental duo |
| Instrumentation | Vc Pf |
| Commissioned by | ECAT with investment from Creative Scotland and the Hope Scott Trust |
| Key signature | |
| First line | |
| First performed | |
| Notes | 'For Robin Michael'. |
| Programme Note | The Song of Leda is the fourth of my ongoing series of pieces taking inspiration and ideas from classical mythology. The others being 'The Song of Phryne' for clarinet and piano (with pre-recorded tape), 'The Song of Icarus' for violin and piano and 'The Song of Dionysius' for percussion and piano (commissioned and premiered by Evelyn Glennie and Philip Smith at the 1989 BBC Proms). I use the term 'song' in its narrative or dramatic sense as used in some forms of poetry - eg. La Chanson de Roland - that great French narrative poem from the 12th century. The piece is, therefore, in the style of a 'scene dramatic.' According to Greek legend, Zeus (Jupiter or Jove), lord of the skies, was prone to throwing thunderbolts at anyone who displeased him and to changing himself into a variety of forms. He turned into a swan in order to seduce Leda who was also pregnant at the time by her husband Tyndareus. This result in the births of Helen of Troy and the twins Castor and Pollux. The story inspired W B Years to write what many consider to be his finest poem, 'Leda and the Swan'. It illustrates dramatically the way in which a single event can change the face of history - ie. the birth of Helen of Troy, the subsequent destruction of early Greek civilisation, and the beginning of a new era. |
This work is associated with the following collection items:
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