Actaeon

[kenm]

I wrote this during 2005. It is for 2 flutes, second doubling picc, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, two horns and vibraphone. It is my first piece of programme music and is intended to portray Actaeon, out hunting, getting separated from his companions and accidentally happening upon Diana bathing, attended by her nymphs. Diana also sees him, is much offended, and turns him into a stag. His companions return and hunt him to death.

Unfortunately, I haven't managed to attach it.

[kenm]

The MP3 file is 4529 kbytes on my disc, but the transfer has padded it to 5.01 Mbytes, and the site won't accept it.

[kenm]

I have put it on my own web site, at http://www.mooremusic.org.uk/kcm/acpbscx.mp3

[VicDiesel]

Let me start by saying that I don't care much for program music. So, yes, you're using horns to depict hunting scenes, and yes, it's stereotypical, but I guess it goes with the territory.

On the whole this is a good sounding piece of music. I'm sure if someone will play it live they'll have a good time with it. My only point of criticism: from the dynamics levels and certain obvious cues I can tell how the story connects with the music, but, that said, I find the music idiomatically somewhat even throughout the piece. If the stag is being hunted to death, shouldn't the pace pick up a bit? Just to name an example?

Thanks for posting. Good stuff.

Victor.

[ascottk]

It seems very Debussy-esque. It reminds of a 70's nature program

[Morivou]

Nice piece. You have some good ideas going on. I think you should put a little more passion into it. The work seems almost emotionless for program music...

-Morivou

[kenm]

Thanks for your comments. Yes, Debussy and Ravel were conscious models. We have performed it live, and the players said they enjoyed it. I had to play second horn in it, so I didn't hear it from the outside, but our conductor was very conscientious and realised my intentions very well, as far as I could tell.