Odysseus and the Sirens - Z. Randall Stroope

Z. RANDALL STROOPE, American composer & conductor; SATB, soprano solo, piano, crotales; U.S. publisher, Walton Music #.1536; duration 5:00
CONDUCTOR NOTES (www.zrstroope.com)
ODYSSEUS AND THE SIRENS depicts the mythological wayfarer, Odysseus, as his ship approaches the island of the Sirens. In Greek mythology, the Sirens (sometimes called "muses of the lower world") were sea nymphs, part human/part bird. The writer, Homer, gives the number of the Sirens as two (represented in this musical setting by the oboe and the solo soprano.) The story (narrated by chorus) tells of Mariners who attempted to sail by the island, but were lured to shore by the Siren's "honey-sweet" and sensuous tones (crotales). In fact, NO sailor had ever successfully passed by without being seduced, lured ashore, and killed. Odysseus devises a plan to escape this fate. The shipmates tie Odyseus tightly to the mast of the ship (so he cannot leave the ship) and the sailors put beeswax in their ears so they cannot hear the Sirens and be lured ashore. The plan succeeds, and they pass safely by the Sirens. This is an epic story in literature.
There is a video that shows how to play the crotales for this performance:
• Odysseus & the Sirens ...
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