(2000)
instrumentation: strings (minimum 6.5.4.3.1; larger preferred)
duration: 15:00
(In three movements: I. Apollo; II. Aphrodite; III. Ares)

Honorable Mention, New England String Ensemble National Composers Competition, 2000

Program note

This work was commissioned by the Conductors Institute, Harold Farberman, Artistic Director, for performance by its 30-plus conductors at Bard College in the summer of 2000. The commission request was for a work that had three contrasting movements or sections, which would call for different aspects of technique and approach from the conductors. In thinking about my interest in Greek mythology, I decided that creating three “mini-portraits” of Greek mythological figures would both fulfill this requirement and supply some general imagery on which to draw. Thus the word “Olympians” in the title is not be understood in the modern-day “athletic” sense of the word, but in the ancient Greek sense: an Olympian was a resident of Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. There were twelve Olympians, all “major deities.” The three which inspired the music in this case—Apollo, Aphrodite, and Ares—were all children of Zeus, but each had a different mother. Apollo is the most multi-faceted of these three, the god of reason and intelligence, music, prophecy, medicine, and the sun. Of course, the musical portrayals of Apollo have been endless, with Stravinsky and Britten providing noteworthy (and daunting) 20th-century examples. For me, Apollo meant “classical” harmony and phrasing, and a great deal of energy. Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty, which to me unambiguously called for lyrical melody. Ares was the god of war, which to me translated as relentless rhythm, as well as a chance to exploit some of the more menacing effects of which strings are capable. The unison Gs in this movement are a nod to Holst’s famous portrayal of Mars (the Roman incarnation of Ares). This work is unabashedly tonal, straightforward, and hopefully a good deal of fun.

Performance history

• Premiered by The Conductors Institute Orchestra, numerous conductors, at Bard College, July 10-14, 2000
• Performed by the Claremont Ensemble, Peter Boyer, conductor, April 7, 2000
• Performed by the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, Peter Boyer, conductor, at Royce Hall, UCLA, August 18, 2000
• Performed by the Janus Orchestra, Peter Boyer, conductor, April 26, 2001
• Performed by the Greenville (South Carolina) Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Edvard Tchivzhel, February 22 & 23, 2003
• Performed by the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Donald Barra, conductor, January 19, 20 & 23, 2004
• Performed by the Santa Barbara Symphony, Gisèle Ben-Dor, conductor, January 24 & 25, 2004
• Performed by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor, March 3–6, 2004; June 3 & 6, 2004
• Recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Boyer, conductor, at Abbey Road Studios, London, January 2 & 3, 2001; released on compact disc by Koch International Classics (#7523), June 2001
• Broadcast by Radio France Musiques (national broadcast), November 20, 2001
• LSO/Koch recording broadcast on dozens of radio stations throughout United States since its release