POSEIDON
World Premier November 2, 2010 by the
Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band
Kazumasa Watanabe, Conductor
November 2, 2010
The Greek god of the Sea, Poseidon is usually pictured as an older, bearded man surrounded by sea life.Son of Kronos, the god of time and Rhea, the goddess of the earth, brother of both Zeus and Hades, married to Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, and father to many children including Triton, Arion and Pegasus, Poseidon was a creative and temperamental god. He is attributed with the creation of all horses and sea creatures, the powers of the ocean and even the force behind earthquakes. Poseidon is often compared or combined with the Roman god of the sea, Neptune.
The inspiration for this work actually came from an 1892 Victorian painting by Walter Crane titled“Neptune’s Steeds”. “Poseidon” is a programmatic portrait of the Greek god Poseidon and is musically divided into the following sections;
The Ocean - Its beauty, grace and often hidden powers of destruction.
Giant Sea horses from the Depths - the journey of the giant sea horses from the bottom of the deepest ocean to the surface.
Poseidon’s Seahorse Chariot - The great waves of Poseidon and his Chariots.
Medusa & Pegasus - Poseidon’s love for both Medusa (who was not always a hideous monster) and Pegasus,who flew out of the neck of Medusa when she was slain.
The Maelstrom - the strength and wrath of Poseidon.
The piano, harp and sometimes the vibraphone most often represent the rippling of water as
sunshine dances through it. The lower brass often represents Poseidon himself.
