DEMETER PRELUDE, 1997

commission: Audubon String Quartet

Duration, 8 minutes

String Quartet

Demeter Prelude was commissioned for the Audubon String Quartet by the Reston Prelude Festival. The young Greek goddess, Persephone is picking flowers in the field when suddenly the earth opens and Hades charges forth in a black chariot pulled by black horses. He abducts Persephone to the Underworld. Demeter discovers that her daughter, Persephone, is missing but does not know where she is. She goes in search of her daughter experiencing magical adventures on her quest. Eventually, learning what has happened, she is enraged and demands that Zeus order Hades to release Persephone. When Zeus does not do as she asks, Demeter realizes that she can use her own power, refusing to fulfill her function as goddess of living things, so that nothing can grow or be born. The world begins to die. Zeus then orders Hades to release Persephone. Demeter Prelude is about this part of the famous myth. It portrays the spirit of Demeter's many adventures during her search for Persephone, her personality and character, as seen by the composer, and her confrontation with Zeus and Hades.

Performances:

WCLV, 9/26/98, (part of an hour program of her music aired nationally via the Internet)

WCLV, 4/4/98, (part of an hour program of her music aired nationally via the Internet)

Audubon Quartet, Dept. of Music, University Chamber Music, VA Tech, 10/4 & 10/5/97

Audubon Quartet, Gretna Festival, PA 8/24/97

Audubon Quartet, Logan Chamber Music Series, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY 8/4/97

Above performance aired on Buffalo, New York station with interview with me

Premiere Audubon Quartet, Reston Prelude Festival, 6/20/97