5 Songs of Pindar for Soprano Solo, Choir and Orchestra

Duration: circa 25 minutes.

The object in writing this piece was to create a composition based upon the 5 Olympic Disciplines of Ancient Greece: Sprint, Jump, Discus, Spear and Wrestling Match (see below for text). The work utilises the poetry of Pindar, dedicated to the ancient Olympic winners. The text is set in the original Greek in order to demonstrate the importance of the Greek ancient world 
                                 both for the present and the future.

Instrumentation: - Dramatic Soprano Solo, Full Symphonic Choir. Full Orchestra: 2 Flutes (dbl. Piccolo), 2 Oboes (dbl. Ca), Bb Clarinets (dbl. Clarinet in A), 2 bassoons (dbl. Contra), 4 French Horns, 2 Bb Trumpets (dbl Trpts in C), 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion: (Bass drums, 4 low Tom-toms, Crash Cymbals, medium stand-mounted Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, large Tam-Tam, large Thunder Theet, Sandpaper Blocks (fine grade), Maracas (fine bead), Crotales, Chimes, Glockenspiel, Marimba) Harp, 16 First Violins, 14 Second Violins, 12 Violas, 10 Violoncellos, 8 Double Basses)

The Text of the 5 Poems of Pindar: (please note that this work uses the Greek text exactly as it appears in the poetry below and not a Latin alphabet transliteration:)

Race

Discus

Javelin

Wrestling Match

Jump