Myth and Music

 

 

Additions to Original List Composers List Complete Updated List

 

ICARUS
L'Envoi d'Icare
(1932), 27:00, Markevitch, Igor (1912-1983).
Ballet music, later an orchestral work, then a work for two pianos and percussion on the flight of Icarus.
o LARGO 5127 (two-piano version), MARCO POLO 8.223666

Icare (1943), Markevitch, Igor (1912-1983).
A reworking of his 1932 work.
o MARCO POLO 8225076

Symphony (The Airborne) (1946), 14:30, Blitzstein, Marc (1905-1964).
A history of human flight in twelve musical tableaux, the first of which deals with Icarus.
o RCA 62568, SONY 61849

Icarus (1971), 4:00, Towner, Ralph (1940-).
Music for the new-age Paul Winter Consort suggesting Icarus' soaring flight.
o COLUMBIA 44314 ("Pioneers of the New Age"), LIVING MUSIC 0004, 0018, 0023

Icarus (1975), 25:00, Gutchë, Gene (1907-).
An orchestral suite in four movements in which Icarus is a symbol for Columbus facing obstacles from the sea and triumphing over them as he finds a new continent.
o CRI 838

Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel (1975), 6:00, Livgren, Kerry (1949-).
A rock song for the group Kansas about the freedom of flying.
o EPIC 47364, KIRSHNER 33806 ("Masque")

Flight of Icarus (1983), 4:00, Dickinson, Bruce (1958-).
A song for the rock group Iron Maiden about striving, but failing.
o CAPITOL 46186 ("Live after Death"), 46363 ("Piece of Mind")

Icarus Ascending (1984), Ford, Andrew (1957-).
A work for solo violin inspired by Icarus' difficulties in beginning his flight.
o TALL POPPIES 150 ("Icarus Pieces" with his C
hamber Concerto 3: In Constant Flight, Parabola, and Icarus Drowning)

Icarus (Second Concerto) (1984), 22:00, Lazarof, Henri (1932-).
A concerto, inspired by Icarus, about the nobility but also the dangers of space flight.
o DELOS 3069

La Chute d'Icare (1988), 10:30, Ferneyhough, Brian (1943-).
A work for solo clarinet and instrumental ensemble inspired by Brueghel's painting The Fall of Icarus.
o ACCORD 205 772 (with his Prometheus), ETCETERA 1070 (with his Mnemosyne)

Chamber Concero 3: In Constant Flight (1988), Ford, Andrew (1957-).
A reworking of his Icarus Ascending for violin and chamber ensemble.
o TALL POPPIES 150 ("Icarus Pieces" with his Icarus Ascending, Parabola, and Icarus Drowning)

Parabola (1989), Ford, Andrew (1957-).
A theater piece for voices, bass clarinet, piano, and percussion inspired by Icarus' fall.
o TALL POPPIES 150 ("Icarus Pieces" with his Icarus Ascending, Chamber Concerto, and Icarus Drowning)

The Flight of Icarus (1990), Hallgrímsson, Hafliði (1941-).
A work in three movements for solo flute, with changes of tempo to suggest various aspects of the flight.
o AC 8-99022-1 ("Implosions", with Ferneyhough's Mnemosyne and Hauksson’s Cho), JAPIS MILLENIUM P. 006 ("Implosions", with Ferneyhough's Mnemosyne)

Salto. Trapez. Ikarus (1990), 20:00, Kalitzke, Johannes (1959-).
The last part of a concerto for thirteen instruments reflecting the sorrow over the loss of Icarus.
o CPO 999259

Icarus (1992), 8:30, Murray, David (1955-).
A work for jazz quintet inspired by a character who influenced Malcolm X.
o EVIDENCE 22131( "Ugly Beauty"), RED BARON 53224 ("MX")

Icarus Drowning (1998), Ford, Andrew (1957-).
A work depicting Icarus' last moments.
o TALL POPPIES 150 ("Icarus Pieces" with his Icarus Ascending, Chamber Concerto, and Parabola)

Icarus (1998), 6:00, Guettel, Adam.
A song from material from an off-Broadway production called Saturn Returns: a Concert, a sort of modern-day song cycle, this one about the relationship between father and son.
o NONESUCH 79530 ("Myths and Hymns")

Icarus Wept, Mobberly, James ().
A humorous musical work for trumpet, organ
, and musique concrete tape.

o GOTHIC 49127 ("New Vintage")

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IDOMENEUS

Idoménée
(1712), 167:00, Campra, André (1660-1744).
An opera about his murdering his son in exchange for a safe return from Troy and his resulting madness.
o HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 901396/8 (3), 901506 (selections)

Idomeneo, Re di Creta (1781), 223:00, Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791).
An opera based on the same story, but with the customary baroque complications and a happy ending.
o ANGEL 63990 (3), ARCHIV 431 674 (3), CHANDOS 3103 (2), DG 435396 (5), *447737 (3), EMI 63685 (2), 63990 (3), 73848 (2), LONDON 411805, 420130 (3), MELODRAM 27003 (2), OPERA D'ORO 1340 (3), *PHILIPS 420130 (3), 422537 (3), RODOLPHE 32467/8 (2), TELDEC 35547 (3), URANIA 22.182 (2), VERONA 27038 (2)

Paraphrase on Mozart's "Idomeneo" (1991), 10:30, Saxton, Robert (1953-).
Music mirroring the opera as different instruments represent each of the major characters.
o EMI 754 424


INO
(see ATHAMAS)

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IPHIGENIA

Iphigénie en Aulide
(1774), 132:00, Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-1787).
An opera on Jean Racine's play after Euripides dealing with corruption of power versus human decency.
o ANGEL 64143 (2), *ERATO 45003 (2), 98513 (excerpts, 74:00), EURODISC 7796 (2) (1847 Wagner revision), MYTO 91544 (2), ORFEO 428 962 (2), RCA 7796 (2)

Iphigénie en Tauride (1779), 116:00, Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-1787).
An opera on Guymond de la Touche's play after Euripides about the eventual rescue of Iphigenia.
o ARCHIV 471133 (2), BELLA VOCE 107241 (2), CHANT DU MONDE 278769, MELODRAM 26012 (2), MYTO 91544 (2), ORFEO 052 832 (2), 5630121 (2), PHILIPS 416148 (2), *SONY 52492 (2), TELARC 80546 (2)

Iphigénie en Tauride (1781), 104:00, Piccinni, Niccolò (1728-1800).
An opera with a similar plot.
o FONIT CETRA 32 (2)

Ifigenia in Aulide (1788), 7:00, Cherubini, Maria Luigi (1760-1842).
The overture of an opera which differs from its predecessors by using music to delineate character.
o ARTS 47102 (with his Medea overture), EUROPA 350 221 (the same performance), FREQUENZ 011-042 (the same performance)

Iphigeneia (1817), 3:30, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Johann Mayrhofer's text of Iphigenia's lament over her loneliness in Tauris and her wish to return home,
o EMI 69389, HYPERION 33003 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 3"), OMEGA 1001 ("Elly Ameling Sings Schubert at Tanglewood", with his Ganymed and Die Götter Griechenlands)

Suite Delphique (1943), Jolivet, Andre (1905-1974).
Music for wind instruments, harp, ondes martenot, and percussion to accompany Euripides' Iphigenia in Tauris.
o ADDA 581171.

Iphigenia in Brooklyn (1963), 10:00, Schickele, Peter (PDQ Bach) (1935-).
A parody of famous musical works and forms inspired by the Iphigenia legend.
o VANGUARD 72015 ("The Wurst of P.D.Q. Bach"), 79195 ("An Evening with P.D.Q. Bach")

Iphigenia (1977), Theodorakis, Mikis (1929-).
The musical score for Michael Cacoyannis' film based on the episode at Aulis.
o SAKARRIS 50089

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IRIS
Le Souffle d'Iris
(1992), 20:30, Prin, Yves (1933-).
A revision of a 1986 concerto for flute and orchestra inspired by the messenger goddess.
o NAXOS 8.555347 (with his Dioscures)

IXION

Ixion
(1737), 14:00, Boismortier, Joseph Bodin de (1689-1755).
A cantata from his 2nd Livre de Cantates about Ixion's lust for Hera and his punishment.
o PREZIOSA 66020

Ixion (1944-45), 6:00, Langgaard, Rued (1893-1952).
The composer's Symphony No. 11, termed "a nutty experiment".
o DANACORD 408 (with his Sfinx)

Ixion (Summerspace) (1958), 12:00, Feldman, Morton (1926-1987).
Music for ten instruments used for a ballet by choreographer Merce Cunningham.
o CATALYSYT 68751 ("Music for Merce")


JANUS

Januaries
(1984), 21:30, Fox, Frederick (1931-).
An orchestral poem suggested by thoughts about the Roman god.
o INDIANA UNIVERSITY 03

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JASON
(see also CALAIS, HARPIES, MEDEA)

Lamento di Giasone (1623), 10:30, d'India, Sigismondo (c.1582-c.1630).
A song on d'India's own text from Book V of Musiche a Una e Due Voci about Jason's sorrow for his dead sons.
o HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 901011 (with Cesti's Pria ch'adori [Ariadne]), VIRGIN 59231 (with his Lamento d'Orfeo)

Giasone (1649), 234:00, Cavalli, Pier Francesco (1602-1676).
An opera revising the Jason story as Hypsipyle wins Jason and Medea weds her first love Aegeus.
o HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 901282/4 (3)

Jason and the Argonauts (1975), 11:00, Herrmann, Bernard (1911-1975).
Selected music, including the prelude and the episode with Talos, from the sound track of the movie.
o INTRADA 7083, LONDON 417852, 448948, MOBILE FIDELITY 692 ("The Mysterious Film World of Bernard Herrmann")

Jason and the Argonauts (1982), 6:00, Partridge, Andy (1953-).
A song by the pop-rock group XTC using the mythical story to comment upon contemporary times.
o VIRGIN 4036 ("English Settlement")


JOCASTA
(see OEDIPUS)

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LAMIA

Lamia, Symphonic Poem
(1888), 13:00, MacDowell, Edward (1860-1908).
A work on John Keats' poem as an enchantress returns to her serpent form as her lover is found dead.
o ALBANY TROY 235 (same as ANGEL recording), BRIDGE 9089, EMI 49263 ("Skyscrapers", with Paine's Oedipus Tyrannus), LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 104

Lamia (1974), 19:30, Druckman, Jacob (1928-).
A work for soprano and orchestra celebrating the powers of the mythical sorceress.
o NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC 9913 ("An American Celebration vol. 2")


LEANDER
(see HERO)

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LEDA
Princezna Hyacinth
(1911), 33:30, Nedbal, Oskar (1874-1930).
Music for a ballet in which a man is cured of his lust for money by a number of famous people including Leda.
o SUPRAPHON 111414

Leda (1929), 10:00, Varkonyi, Bela (1878-1946).
A fantasy for viola and piano.
o JERUSALEM 8701

Leda and the Swan (1939), 11:00, Gade, Jacob (1879-1963).
Music for a ballet on the familiar story.
o MARCO POLO 8.224090

Leda and the Swan (1976), 7:00, Avni, Tzvi (1927-).
A work for voice and clarinet inspired by the story of Zeus’ deception.
o SYMPOSIUM 1110

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LETO/LATONA

The Lycian Peasants Changed to Frogs
(c. 1781), 20:00, Dittersdorf, Karl (1739-1799).
Symphony No. 6 from Six Symphonies after Ovid's Metamorphoses on Metamorphoses 6.
o CALIG 50885/6 (2), CHANDOS 8564/5 (2), MHS 522223, NAXOS 8.553369, SUPRAPHON 110579 (2)


LINUS

Chant de Linos
(1944), 11:00, Jolivet, André (1905-1974).
A chamber piece for flute, string trio, and harp inspired by the tragic end of Heracles' tutor.
o ASV 918, BIS 549, 739, CLAVES 509003, CONNOISSEUR SOCIETY 4183, DENON 1476 (with Roussel’s Joueurs de Flûte [Pan]), EMI 56488, GM 2025, INTIM 40, KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 7016, MARQUIS 143, NAIVE 4925 (with Debussy's Syrinx), SIMAX 1806, VIENNA MODERN MASTERS 2013


LOTUS EATERS
(see ODYSSEUS)

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MARSYAS

Marsyas
(1910), 34:00, Diepenbrock, Alphons (1862-1921).
A concert suite from incidental music for Balthazar Verhagen's comedy about the mythical music contest.
o CHANDOS 8821 (with his Elektra), 10029 (2) (with his Elektra)

The Flaying of Marsyas (1986-7), 18:30, Matthews, David (1943-).
A work for oboe and string quartet inspired by Titian's painting of the contest between Apollo and Marsyas.
o METRONOME 1005

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MEDEA
(see also JASON, THESEUS)

Médée (1693), 180:00, Charpentier, Marc-Antoine (1635-1705).
A tragic opera deviating from Euripides with the introduction of amatory complications.
o *ERATO 96558 (3), HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 901139/41 (3), 901316/8 (3) ("Les Arts Florissants, Ten Years", excerpts)

Médée (1710), 20:00, Clérambault, Louis-Nicolas (1676-1749).
A cantata for soprano and ensemble expressing the changes in Medea's emotional state.
o ARCHIV 437 085 (with his Orphée), KOCH 6644, KOCH SCHWANN 7096 ("French Cantatas of the 18th Century", with Montéclair's La Mort de Didon and Pan et Syrinx).

Medea in Corinto (1711), 15:00, Caldara, Antonio (c.1670-1736).
A cantata for countertenor and ensemble depicting Medea's ambivalent feelings for Jason and her revenge.
o VIRGIN 59058, 91479

La Médée, (1758), 4:00, Duphly, Jacques (1715-1789).
A piece for harpsichord from Book 3 of Pieces de Clavecin suggesting Medea's emotions.
o ADDA 4 581097/100 (with his Les Grâces), AMATI 8902/1 ("Du Clavecin au Pianoforte, vol. 1", with Forqueray's Jupiter)

Medea (1775), 51:00, Benda, JiÍí Antonín (Georg) (1722-1795).
A melodrama for narrator and orchestra in which Medea laments her lost happiness and exacts her revenge.
o ACCORD 202622, NAXOS 8.553346

Médée (1797), 147:00, Cherubini, Maria Luigi (1760-1842).
An opera in which Medea murders her rival to gain revenge on Jason.
o ANGEL 63625 (2), ARKADIA 428 (2), 464 (2), 516 (2), CLAQUE 2005/6 (2), DENON 7336/7 (2), EMI 63625 (2), 67909 (2), *FONIT-CETRA 3002 (2), FORTISSIMO 3002 (2), GALA 100.555 (2), HUNGAROTON 11904/5 (2), HUNT 516 (2), 34028 (2), MELODRAM 26005 (2), 26016 (2), 26022 (2), 27087 (2), MYTO 91136 (2), NEWPORT 85622 (2), NUOVA ERA 7253/4 (2), VERONA 27088 (2)

Medea in Corinto (1813), 198:00, Mayr, Johann Simon (1763-1845).
An operatic adaptation of Euripides with a war, Creusa's kidnapping by Aegeus, and his rescue from prison.
o MYTO 993.211 (3), OPERA RARA 11 (3), 215 (excerpts)

Medea (1843), 119:00, Pacini, Giovanni (1796-1867).
An operatic adaptation of Euripides where a disguised Medea interrupts Calchas' attempts to annul her marriage.
o ARKADIA AKADEMIA 146 (2)

Médée: Suite (1898), 30:00, d'Indy, Vincent (1851-1931).A concert suite from his incidental music for Catulle Mendès' play starring Sarah Bernhardt.
o MARCO POLO 8.223654

The Daughter of Colchis
(1943), 23:30, Chávez, Carlos (1899-1978).
A symphonic version of the music for a Martha Graham ballet entitled Dark Meadow.
o ASV 927("Musica Mexicana, vol. 7"), 1058 (with his Sinfonia de Antigona)

Suite for Double Quartet (1943), 23:30, Chávez, Carlos (1899-1978).
A suite for woodwinds and strings drawn from the music of The Daughter of Colchis.
o DORIAN 90215

Cave of the Heart (1946), 28:00, Barber, Samuel (1910-1981).
Music for chamber ensemble from a ballet with a Freudian twist on Medea's abandonment and revenge.
o KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 7019 ("Music for Martha Graham"), 7361

Medea (Cave of the Heart) (1947), 25:00, Barber, Samuel (1910-1981).
A seven-movement orchestral suite for full orchestra incorporating most of the ballet music.
o KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 7010, MECURY 432016, PEARL 0151

Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance (1955), 13:00, Barber, Samuel (1910-1981).
A one-movement tone poem derived from the complete ballet score.
o ASV 534, CAPRICCIO 10466, *CHANDOS 9253 (with his Music for a Scene from Shelley [Prometheus]), 9908, EMI 49463, 74287 (2), NAXOS 8.559088, 8.559133, NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC 9911 ("An American Celebration vol. 2), PEARL GEM 0151, RCA 61424, SONY 62837 (with his Andromache's Farewell), TELARC 80250

Medea (1967), 23:00, Xenakis, Iannis (1922-2001).
Incidental music for men's chorus and instrumental ensemble for a production of Seneca's play.
o HYPERION 66980 (with his A Colone)

The Medead (1977), Nelson, Marie Barker (1926-).
A tone poem based on Euripides' tragedy.
o MMC 2016 ("Modern American Classics, Volume One")

Prism (1980), 22:00, Druckman, Jacob (1928-1996).
A work echoing some of the music of Charpentier's Médée, Cavalli's Il Giasone, and Cherubini's Medea.
o NEW WORLD 335

Je Deviendrai Médée (1986), 19:30, Demierre, Jacques (1954-).
A song for solo voice by the mythical female who produces her own myth.
o MUSIKSZENE/SCWEIZ GRAMMONT 38

Medea-Material (1989), 24:00, Liebermann, Rolf (1910-1999).
A cantata for soprano, female chorus, and orchestra based on Freispruch für  Medea by Ursula Haas presenting Medea as a victim of a male-dominated Greek society.
o NAXOS 8.5555884

Medea (1989), 12:30, Workman, Reggie (1937-).
A jazz work for the Reggie Workman Ensemble and vocal chorus, capturing the action of Euripides’ tragedy.
o MUSIC & ARTS 634

Dance with Shadows (1990), 8:00, Druckman, Jacob (1928-1996).
A work for brass quintet on parts of Charpentier's Médée III, iii.
o CRYSTAL 564

Medeamaterial (1992), 54:00, Dusapin, Pascal (1955-).
An operatic project on Heiner Müller's text focusing on Medea as an autistic schizophrenic.
o HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 905215

Choruses for Medea (1995), 30:00, Denisov, Edison (1929-1996).
Choral music for a Russian adaptation of Euripides with the singers in the role of a Greek chorus.
o SAISON RUSSE 288131

Freispruch für Medea (1995), 63:30, Liebermann, Rolf (1910-1999).
An opera in which Jason is gay and Creon junior is Jason's lover.
o MUSIKSZENE/SCHWEIZ 6126

Medea, Kavasch, Deborah ().
A vocal work based on the text of poet Linda Bunney-Sarhad.
o TNC 1429

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MEDUSA
(see also GORGONS)

Euryali (1973), 10:00, Xenakis, Iannis (1922-2001).
A work for solo piano inspired by the gorgon with her head of serpents.
o DENON 33CO-1052, MODE 80, MONTAIGNE 782005 (2) (with his Kottos), VIENNA MUSIC MASTERS 2014

Medusa's Shadow (1987), 17:00, Nørholm, Ib (1931-).
A piece of chamber music for flute, viola, cello, and harp.
o KONTRAPUNKT 32019 ("Chamber Music")

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MELEAGER

Atalanta
(1736), 140:00, Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759).
An opera about Meleager's wooing of Atalanta with a double love affair, disguises, and misunderstandings.
o HUNGAROTON 12612/4 (3)

La Corona (1765), 60:00, Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-1787).
A retelling of the Calydonian boar hunt, dealing only with the pleasant aspects of the story.
o ORFEO 135872

Atalanta in Calydon (1911), Bantock, Granville (1868-1946).
A work for unaccompanied mixed chorus on Algernon Swinburne's Atalanta in Calydon.
o ALBANY TROY 180

Spring Fire (1913), 30:30, Bax, Arnold (1883-1953).
A symphony on a chorus from the same play about the atmosphere of the forest where the lovers meet.
o CHANDOS 8464, 10155


MELPOMENE
(see MUSES)

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MEMNON

Memnon
(1817), 6:00, Schubert, Franz (1797-1828).
A song on Johann Mayrhofer's poem about a statue of the hero speaking once a day at dawn.
o BBCL 4070 (with his Atys), CPO 999510 (with his Gruppe aus dem Tartarus and Prometheus), DG 437215 ("Schubert Lieder, Vol. 1"), DG 471586 (with his An Schwager Kronos, Gruppe aus dem Tartarus and Prometheus), HYPERION 33014 ("The Hyperion Schubert Edition: Complete Songs vol. 14", songs dealing with Greek mythical figures), MDG 3210835 (with his Gruppe aus dem Tartarus and Prometheus), NAXOS 8.554738 (with other songs of mythical characters), ORFEO 929001(with his Gruppe aus dem Tartarus and Prometheus)

Prelude to Memnon (1933), 22:00, Schreker, Franz (1878-1934).
Symphonic fragments for an uncompleted opera about the same statue which makes miraculous music.
o CHANDOS 9951, MARCO POLO 8.220469.


MENELAUS
(see TROJAN WAR)

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MIDAS
(see also DANAE)

Der Streit zwischen Phoebus und Pan (BWV 201) (1731), 56:00, Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750).
A cantata on Ovid's Metamorphoses 11 about a contest judged by Midas, a satire on critics of Bach's music.
o BERLIN CLASSICS 9221, CAPRICCIO 10 615, HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 901544/5 (2) (with his BWV 205 - Aeolus and BWV 213 - Heracles), HÄNSSLER 98.162, MUSIC MEMORIA 30446, MUSICAPHON 51352

Le Jugement de Midas (1778), 35-59:00, Grétry, André (1741-1813).
Excerpts from a comic opera in which Midas judges parodies of tragédie lyrique to be better than Apollo's song.
o ASV 1095 (overture with his Cephale et Procris suite), KOCH SCHWANN 310902, RICERCAR 63033

King Midas (1961), 25:30, Rorem, Ned (1923-).
A cantata for tenor, soprano, and piano on Howard Moss' ten poems about the negative effects of Midas' touch.
o PHOENIX 126


MINOTAUR
(see ARIADNE)

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MNEMOSYNE (see also MUSES)
Mnemosyne (1986), 11:00, Ferneyhough, Brian (1943-).
A work for live bass flute and pre-recorded tape of eight bass flutes named for the goddess of memory.
o AC 8-99022-1 ("Implosions", with Hallgrímsson's The Flight of Icarus and Hauksson’s Cho), ETCETERA 1070 (with his La Chute d'Icare), JAPIS MILLENIUM P. 006 ("Implosions", with Hallgrímsson's The Flight of Icarus)

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MUSES
(see also PIERIDES)

The Teares of the Muses (1599), Holborne, Anthony (d. 1602).
o ALIA VOX 9813

Sing Ye Muses (1700), 3:30, Blow, John (1649-1708).
A work for four voices calling upon the Muses to sing of the glories of nature.
o HYPERION 66658

L'Entretien des Muses (1724), 6:30, Rameau, Jean-Philippe (1683-1764).
A keyboard work from Pièces de Clavecin avec une Méthode sur la Mécanique des Doigts about the Muses.
o KOCH SCHWANN 310043 (2) (with his Les Cyclopes), L'OISEAU-LYRE 425 886 (2) (with his Les Cyclopes), REFERENCE 27

Terpsichore (1734), 11:00, Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759).
A work of dance and song in which Terpsichore portrays various emotions through dance.
o HUNGAROTON 31193

Musical Parnassus (1738), 60:00, Fischer, Johann C. F. (c.1670-1746).
A set of nine suites, each named after one of the Muses.
o HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 901026, MD+G 605 0977, NAXOS 8.554218 (suites 1-6), 8.554446 (suites 7-9)

Il Parnaso Confuso (1765), 73:00. Gluck,Christoph Willibald (1714-1787).
A serenata teatrale (opera) in which Apollo calls upon some of the Muses to develop music for a royal wedding and they spendthe time trying to develop certain ideas.
o ALBANY 655

Terpsichore (1836), 3:00, Moscheles, Ignaz (1794-1870).
A piano work in a can-can/polka motif from the Opus 95 Etudes.
o KOCH SCHWANN 311782, NEWPORT CLASSICS 60088

Musen-Polka (1854), 3:00, Strauss II, Johann (1825-1899).
A polka inspired by the Muses written as a contribution to the Vienna Artists’ Ball.
o MARCO POLO 8.223205 (with his Hesperus-Polka)

Musen-Quadrille (1858), 8:00, Strauss, Josef (1827-1870).
A quadrille inspired by the same characters for the Vienna Artists’ Ball at the "Sperl" dance hall.
o MARCO POLO 8.223566

Thalia (1866), 3:30, Strauss, Josef (1827-1870).
A polka mazur inspired by this Muse for the Hesperus Society ball.
o MARCO POLO 8.223561, SONY 66860

Die Tanzende Muse (1869), 4:00, Strauss, Josef (1827-1870).
A polka-mazurka.
o DG 429563, RCA 68421 ("New Year’s in Vienna 1996")

Thalia (1883), Chadwick, George W. (1854-1931).
A short overture in honor of the greek muse of comedy.
o NAXOS 8.559117 (with his Aphrodite, Euterpe, and Melpomene)

Melpomene Overture (1887), 15:30, Chadwick, George W. (1854-1931).
An orchestral work after the Greek muse of tragic poetry.
o ALBANY TROY 103 ("Those Fabulous Americans"), CHANDOS 9439, 10032, NAXOS 8.559117 (with his Aphrodite, Euterpe, and Thalia), NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC 9905 ("An American Celebratin vol. 1"), REFERENCE 64, 2104 (with his Aphrodite)

Invocation à la Muse (1896), 4:00, Leoncavallo, Ruggiero (1857-1919).
A work for piano and voice inspired by a muse, from A. de Musset’s La Nuit de Mai.
o BONGIOVANI 5599, NUOVA ERA 32

Fête du Couronnement de la Muse (1897), 7:00, Charpentier, Gustave (1860-1956).
A musical image of a crowd scene for chorus and orchestra, later incorporated into his opera Louise.
o MUSIC MEMORIA 30223

Kampen med Muserne (The Struggle with the Muses) (1897), 13:30, Horneman, Christian (1840-1906).
A four-movement orchestral suite taken from music intended to accompany a satiric work by Karl Gjellerup about Thamyris the poet, a grandson of Apollo, who is transformed into Homer.
o BIS 749

Euterpe (1904), 9:00, Chadwick, George W. (1854-1931).
A concert overture in honor of the Muse of lyric poetry.
o ALBANY TROY 030 (also contains Converse's Endymion), NAXOS 8.559117 (with his Aphrodite, Melpomene, and Thalia),

Muse of the Golden Throne (1906), 5:30, Bantock, Granville (1868-1946).
A song from the Sappho cycle on Sappho's text recognizing the power of the Muses.
o HYPERION 66899 (with his Hymn to Aphrodite)

La Muse et le Poète (1910), 16:00, Saint-Saëns, Camille (1835-1921).
A work for violin, cello, and orchestra on a colloquy between the Muse (violin) and the Poet (cello).
o ADDA 590077, BIS 1060, CALA 1016, ELYSIUM 714, EMI 54913, 64790 (2), RCA 63518, SUPRAPHON 111837

The Muse (1912), 2:30, Rachmaninoff, Sergei (1873-1943).
Prologue of the Fourteen Songs cycle on Aleksandr Pushkin's poem about poetic inspiration.
o CEDILLE 019 ("Songs of the Romantic Era"), CHANDOS 9477 ("Complete Songs, volume 3"), 9644, RUSSIAN DISC 11342 (Romances")

L'Accueil des Muses (1920),4:00, Roussel, Albert (1869-1937).
A piano work suggesting a funeral cortege of the Muses in honor of the deceased Claude Debussy.
o GASPARO 295, LABOR 7032, PHILIPS 422138 (2)

Las Musas de Andalucia (1942), 34:30, Turina, Joaquín (1882-1949).
Nine chamber music miniatures for varying ensembles, each representing a different Muse.
o CLAVES 509320

Polimnia (1942), 4:00, Turina, Joaquin (1882-1949).
One section of Las Musas de Andalucía for double bass and piano.
o ORFEO 225911 ("Encores: Ludwig Streicher")

Talia (1942), 4:00, Turina, Joaquin (1882-1949).
One section of Las Musas de Andalucía for double bass and piano.
o NIMBUS 5570

Terpsichore (1994), Newman, Maria (20th century).
A work for clarinet, viola, cello, and piano.
o RAPTORIA CAAM 1007

L'Ode à Muse (1993), 4:30, Wilbaux.
A jazz rendition for jazz quartet.
o RED BARON 57330 ("Ali Ryerson, I'll Be Back")

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NAIADS
(see NYMPHS)


NAIS
Naïs, an Opera for Peace (1749), 120:00, Rameau, Jean-Philippe (1683-1764).
A work about Neptune's wooing of Naïs, a supposed daughter of Tiresias.
o ERATO 98532, GLOSSA 921106 (orchestral suite), HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 907121 (orchestral suite, with his Le Temple de la Gloire)

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NARCISSUS

Non Piu 'nfelice, Paolo da Firenze (c.1355-c.1436).
A madrigal inspired by Narcissus' self-centered musings.
o HARMONIA MUNDI 901732

Écho et Narcisse
(1779), 96:00, Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-1787).
An opera on Ovid's Metamorphoses 3 with a happy ending as both Echo and Narcissus survive.
o HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 905201/2 (2)

Narcisse et Echo (1911), 53:00, Tcherepnin, Nikolai (1873-1945).
Music for a ballet about Echo’s love for Narcissus, but his falling in love with himself.
o CHANDOS 9670

Narcisse (1915), 7:00, Szymanowski, Karol (1882-1937).
One part of Mythes for violin and piano about the tragedy of Narcissus seeing himself.
o ACCORD 201122, ASV 6215, CHANDOS 8747, CLASSICO 407, DG 431469, EMI 55169, HARMONIA MUNDI 901769, KOCH SCHWANN 311552, LIGIA 302055, ONDINE 759, PAVANE 7280, SIMAX 1115 ("Quasi Una Sonata"), TRITON 16

Narcissus (1951), 3:00, Britten, Benjamin (1913-1976).
One of Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe about his falling in love with his own image.
o CAMERATA 30CM-449, CAMPANELLA 130038, CHANNEL 9326, CRYSTAL 323, 325, DELOS 3235, EMI 55398, HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 911556, HYPERION 66776, MDG 0925, MERIDIAN 84119, NORWAY MUSIC 1004, PHILIPS 434076, SIMAX 1022, SONPACT 94011, UNICORN-KANCHANA 9121, VICTORIA 19036

Echo's Lament for Narcissus (1952), 3:00, Bush, Geoffrey (1920-).
A song for high voice and piano from Three Songs of Ben Johnson.
o CHANDOS 8830 ("A Little Love Music", with his The End of Love)

Narcissus (1987), 15:30, Musgrave, Thea (1929-).
A work for solo flute with digital delay (electronic "echo system") recalling Narcissus’ seeing his reflection in a pool of water.
o CAPSTONE 8607 ("Electric Clarinet"), CLARINET CLASSICS 39, NEUMA 450-95 (with her Kairos [Odysseus] and Orfeo 1)

Cho (1992), Hauksson, Þorsteinn (1949-).
A work for flute and tape inspired by the story of Echo.
o AC 8-99022-1 ("Implosions", with Ferneyhough’s Mnemosyne and Hallgrimsson The Flight of Icarus)

Narcissus (1994), 77:30, Furrer, Beat (1954-).
An opera of live and taped elements on Ovid's Metamorphoses 3 about artistic truth in the modern world.
o MUSIKSZENE/SCHWEIZ 6143

Concerto - Echo, 23:30, Schneider, Enjott (1950-).
The opening of a three-part piece for organ and string orchestra inspired by the Narcissus/Echo myth.
o GUILD 7264 ("Works for organ and Orchestra")

 

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NAUSICAA
(see ODYSSEUS)


NENIA
Nenie (1874), 11:00, Goetz, Hermann (1840-1876).
A work for mixed chorus and orchestra on Friedrich von Schiller's poem about death's inevitability.
o CPO 999316

Nänie (1880-1), 13:00, Brahms, Johannes (1833-1897).
A work for chorus and orchestra on the same poem, memorializing the painter Anselm Feuerbach.
o DG 435066, 435349, 435791 (with his Gesang der Parzen), LONDON 430281 (with his Gesang der Parzen), MHS 524971 (2) (with his Gesang der Parzen), ORFEO 025821 (with his Gesang der Parzen), PHILIPS 442799, PREISER 93311, RCA 61201 (with his Gesang der Parzen), TELARC 80176 (with his Gesang der Parzen)


NEREIDS
(see NYMPHS)

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NIOBE

Grand Fantasy on Pacini's "La Niobe"
(1837), 12:30, Liszt, Franz (1811-1886).
A piano piece on a theme from the opera for a contest to determine the world's greatest pianist.
o ASV 783 ("Liszt vs. Thalberg"), ORION 7801

Niobe (1951), 2:00, Britten, Benjamin (1913-1976).
One of Six Metamorphoses after Ovid for solo oboe about her grief for her children and her metamorphosis.
o CAMERATA 30CM-449, CAMPANELLA 130038, CHANNEL 9326, CRYSTAL 323, 325, DELOS 3235, EMI 55398, HARMONIA MUNDI FRANCE 911556, HYPERION 66776, MDG 0925, MERIDIAN 84119, NORWAY MUSIC 1004, PHILIPS 434076, SIMAX 1022, SONPACT 94011, UNICORN-KANCHANA 9121, VICTORIA 19036

The Tears of Niobe (1986), 26:00, Scott, Stephen (1944-).
A work for bowed and plucked piano on Ovid's Metamorphoses 6 recalling her weeping.
o NEW ALBION 026 (with his Minerva's Web)

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NYMPHS
(see also SATYRS AND FAUNS)

Nymphes Nappées (?), 3:00, Josquin Desprez (c.1440-1521).
A six-voice song addressed to the nymphs by someone in deep sadness.
o KONTRAPUNKT 32110, RCA 61814 ("The King's Singers - Renaissance")

Nymphes des Bois (?), 5:30, Josquin Desprez (c.1440-1521).
A five-voice lament addressed to the nymphs upon the death of Johannes Okeghem in 1497.
o KONTRAPUNKT 32110, RCA 61814 ("The King's Singers - Renaissance")

Rest Sweet Nimphes (1605), 4:00, Pilkington, Francis (c.1570-1638).
A song in which the poet bids the nymphs to sleep as he keeps watch.
o BAYER 100130 ("A Gardin for Delights"), BIS 257, GOTHIC 49078 ("Westminster Choir at Spoleto Festival U.S.A."), HYPERION 66003 ("English Ayres and Duets"), KOCH INTERNATIONAL 7265 ("The Peaceful Western Wind"), PIERRE VERANY 787092 ("Airs & Danses au Temps de Shakespeare"), VANGUARD 8103

Haste You Nymphs, 2:00, Lawes, William (1602-1645).
A song.
o EMI 54311 ("Reflexe")(with his Come, My Daphne, Come Away and Johnson’s Charon, Oh Charon, Orpheus I Am and The Satyrs’ Masque)

Lamento della Ninfa (1638), 4:30, Monteverdi, Claudio (1567-1643).
A madrigal about an abandoned nymph seen through the eyes of three shepherds.
o ASTREÉ 8546 ("Madrigals of Love and War, Book 8"), CHANNEL 17098, KOCH 7038 ("The National Gallery Vocal Arts Ensemble")

Ninfa Che Scalza il Piede e Sciolto il Crine (1638), 5:00, Monteverdi, Claudio (1567-!643).
Music for a poem in which an unknown poet asks a nymph to stay with him.
o EMI 54333 (with his Altri Canti d'Amor [Ares] and Chi Voi Haver Felice e Lieto il Core [Eros]), KOCH 7038 ("The National Gallery Vocal Arts Ensemble", with Pilkington’s Rest, Sweet Nymphs)

Najaden-Quadrille (1847), 6:00, Strauss I, Johann (1804-1849).
A quadrille inspired by these water nymphs.
o MARCO POLO 8.223617 (with his Orpheus-Quadrille)

Sylvia ou La Nymphe de Diane (1876), 87:00, Delibes, Léo (1836-1891).
A ballet on Torquato Tasso's Aminta about Aminta's triumph over his rival Orion for the love of Sylvia.
o LONDON 425475 (2), MERCURY 434 313 (3), NAXOS 553338 (2)
o (excerpts) EMI 67208
o (suite) FORLANE 28, IMP 10 (2), LASERLIGHT 15616, NAXOS 8.550080, QUINTESSENCE 2100, RCA 61975, ROYAL CLASSICS 70118, SONY 46551

Nimfy (The Nymphs) (1889), 9:30, Kalinnikov, Vasily Sergeyevich (1866-1901).
A tone poem based on a prose-poem by Ivan Turgenev.
o MARCO POLO 8.223135, MELODIYA 10-00170, 34165 (2)

Le Tombeau des Naïades (1897-8), 3:00, Debussy, Claude (1862-1918).
A song on Pierre Louÿs' Chansons de Bilitis depicting two people in winter resting at the tomb of the Naiads.
o BIS 28 (with his Syrinx and La Flüte de Pan), CBS 35127 ("Portrait of Frederica von Stade"), EMI 61038 (3), LONDON 417813, QUANTUM 6912, RCA 60899 ("Nathalie Stutzmann: Ravel Debussy Melodies"), VIRGIN 59604 (with his Syrinx), WERGO 60054-50 ("MagnifiCathy")

Driades (1903), 2:00, Inghelbrecht, Désiré-Emile (1880-1965).
A work for flute and harp from Esquisses Antiques, inspired by these nymphs.
o ADDA 590147, CANTILENA 66008 ("Serenades for Flute and Harp")

Améthyste (1905/8), 5:00, Koechlin, Charles (1867-1950).
A song on Albert Samain's poem about a nymph walking the earth after the other gods are banished.
o HYPERION 66243 ("Le Cortège d'Amphitrite", with his Le Cortège d'Amphitrite, Hymne à Vénus, La Naïade)

Dryadi (1910), 6:00, Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957).
A tone poem suggesting the ease and peacefulness of these creatures.
o BIS 359 (with his Pan and Echo), CHANDOS 8395/6 (with his Oceanids)

Naiad (1912), 5:00, Bax, Arnold (1883-1953).
One of Four Pieces for Flute and Piano presenting a haunting portrayal of this nymph.
o ASV 768 ("Folk or Fantasy")

The Hamadryad (1912), Mukle, May (1880-1963).
A short work for cello and piano.
o ASV 6245 ("British Women Composers for Cello")

Le Jardin des Nymphes (1914), 1:30, Lourié, Arthur (1893-1966).
A short song on the haunts of the nymphs.
o LE CHANTE DU MONDE 288025 ("Mélodies Russes des Années 1920", with his Déploration pour Adonis and Prière à Aphrodite)

Aallottaret (Oceanides) (1914), 11:00, Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957).
A tone poem about the water nymphs, composed for his 1914 visit to the United States.
o ANGEL 49511, 64119, BIS 263, 1225, CHANDOS 6508, 6538 ("Orchestral Seascapes"), 8395/6 (with his Dryadi), EMI 47515, 65182, 68646 (2), 74201 (2), FINLANDIA 95858 (with his Dryadi), NAXOS 8.555299, OMEGA 1028, ONDINE 914, 987, RCA 60401, 68770

Nympholept (1915), 18:00, Bax, Arnold (1883-1953).
A tone poem on Algernon Swinburne's and Bax's poems about the desire for a nymph (the unobtainable).
o CHANDOS 8493, 9168, 10158, NAXOS 555343

Dryades et Pan (1915), 7:00, Szymanowski, Karol (188M2-1937).
One part of Mythes for violin and piano in which Pan courts the frolicking Dryads with his flute.
o ACCORD 201122, ASV 6215, CHANDOS 8747, CLASSICO 407, DG 431469, EMI 55169, HARMONIA MUNDI 901769, KOCH SCHWANN 311552, LIGIA 302055, ONDINE 759, PAVANE 7280, SIMAX 1115 ("Quasi Una Sonata"), TRITON 16

Nereid (1916), 4:30, Bax, Arnold (1883-1953).
An impressionistic work for solo piano inspired by this water nymph.
o CHANDOS 8732

Rest, Sweet Nymphs (1922, 1924), 2:30, Warlock, Peter (Philip Heseltine) (1894-1930).
An art song on a poem of an unknown author, wishing pleasant sleep to the nymphs.
o CHANDOS 8643 (with his Walking the Woods), ETCETERA 1078, HYPERION 66736

Dryade (1924), 8:00, Aubert, Louis (1877-1968).
Orchestral music for a silent movie about a pagan past in which an evil god turns fauns into trees where the Dryads are kept
prisoner.
o MARCO POLO 8.223531

Naiades (1926-7), 4:30, Vierne, Louis (1870-1937).
Suite 4 for organ from Pieces de Fantaisie, op.55, evoking these creatures dancing over the sea.
o ADDA 581246, BAYER 100014/5 (2), KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 7008 (3), PRO ORGANO 7136

La Naïade (1935), 2:00, Koechlin, Charles (1867-1950).
A song from Sept Chansons pour Gladys about a seducing Naiad seduced, ending with the first line of Catullus 3.
o HYPERION 66243 ("Le Cortege d'Amphitrite", with his Améthyste, Le Cortège d'Amphitrite, Hymne à Vénus)

Die Bezaubernde Nymphe (The Enchanted Nymph), 5:00, Levitzki, Mischa (1898-1941).
A work for piano.
o NIMBUS 5326 ("Virtuoso Piano Showpieces"), VIRGIN 59304 ("Stephen Hough: The Piano Album 2")

The Dryad (1940), Bantock, Granville (1868-1946).
The slow movement of his Sonata No. 3 in C major for Violin.
o UNITED 88031

Dans la Forêt Antique (1944), 4:00, Koechlin, Charles (1867-1950).
A work which suggests a walk through an ancient forest inhabited by nymphs and fauns.
o BAYER 100174 ("Detours"), KOCH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS 7394

On Remembering a Naiad (1956), 6:30, Young, La Monte (1935-).
Five small pieces for string quartet with a whimsical title.
o DISQUES MONTAIGNE 782010

Naiades (1971), 13:00, Alwyn, William (1905-1985).
A "fantasy-sonata" for flute and harp meant to recall the water nymphs.
o AC 94001, CHANDOS 9152, COLLINS 1297, METIER 92006, NIMBUS 5247 ("Images and Impressions", with Debussy's Syrinx)

Naiads (1972), 2:00, McCandless, Paul (1947-) & Moore, Glenn (1941-).
An acoustic work for the jazz fusion group Oregon, suggesting the flitting about of these nymphs.
o VANGUARD 79326 ("Music of Another Present Era"), 109/10 ("The Essential Oregon", with their Aurora)

Océanides (1986), 6:00, Brenet, Thérèse (1935-).
A piano work for left hand creating the impression of a sense of tragedy as all the terrible forces of the sea explode.
o ANALEKTA 3080 (2)("An Anthology for the Left Hand")

Océanides (1986), 14:00, Calame, Geneviève (1946-).
A work for synthesizer and chamber orchestra recalling the dual nature of these creatures of the sea.
o MUSIKSZENE/SCHWEIZ GRAMMONT 28

Songs of Nymphs (1987), 14:30, Mozetich, Marjan (1948-).
A work originally meant to illustrate aspects of harp playing, but later more influenced by images of nymphs.
o BIS 649 ("Canadian Harp Music")

Off-Duty Dryad (1990), 13:00, Jenkins, Leroy (1932-).
A work for string quartet and double bass to a wood-nymph, fusing jazz improvisation with classical styles.
o CRI 663

Les Nymphes - Rondeau (), Banlaky, Akos.
A work for twelve cellos.
o HUNGAROTON 32108


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