We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Marsyas' Melodies 2013. Paul Dolden

by Paul Dolden

supported by
fibr and dea
fibr and dea thumbnail
robgill
robgill thumbnail
sven thomas nordlöf
sven thomas nordlöf thumbnail
tortkis
tortkis thumbnail
JP Rossi
JP Rossi thumbnail
pfony
pfony thumbnail
Burton Thomas
Burton Thomas thumbnail
Dann Chinn @ Misfit City
Dann Chinn @ Misfit City thumbnail
John Oliver the composer
John Oliver the composer thumbnail
Robert Bresnan
Robert Bresnan thumbnail
kkurz
kkurz thumbnail
neuroticdog
neuroticdog thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $2 CAD  or more

     

about

Marsyas’ Melodies. 2013. (7’53”).

Commissioned by Akousma (Quebec).

Marsyas was a Phrygian (Turkish) Satyr who was the first to compose for the flute. In hubristic pride over his newfound sounds Marsyas challenged Apollo, the god of music, to a contest. The victor of the contest would do whatever he wished with the loser. The judges for this competition would be the Muses. The Muses are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and are the Goddesses of music, song and dance.

First, Marsyas played on his flute and the melody was wonderful. Then it was Apollo’s turn. Apollo played notes on his lyre full of harmony that were spellbinding to everyone. The Muses could not select a winner.

Then, with dexterity and delight, Apollo masterfully played his lyre upside down and with his teeth, in the same manner as Jimi Hendrix would thousands of years later. Marsyas, trapped by his “serious” creation, was unable to compete with this high-level musical fun. So Apollo was declared the winner of the contest and the punishment he chose was harsh: Apollo flayed Marsyas to death and then used the flute to nail his skin to a pine tree.

The story shows that both Hendrix and Apollo understood the importance of entertaining listeners when creating new music, and to not be hubristic and divorced from reality. It is also an early illustration of how cruel prize-winning musicians can be after a battle of the bands.

I wondered what Marsyas’ flute melodies were like, and what this battle of the bands must have sounded like. To help evoke the mood and time, the music is based on an ancient Arab, and then Greek tuning systems.


The photo is me in about 1978, age 22, getting ready for a Battle of the Bands, by channeling Hendrix, Apollo, or perhaps given the guitar choice and moustache the Allman Brothers Band.

he work is included in the “Golden Dolden Box Set” available under the “merchandise” tab. This box set includes all my music, scores , essays, and educational talks from 1984 to 2021.

credits

released June 8, 2021

license

tags

about

Paul Dolden image

Paul Dolden Val Morin, Québec

For 40 years I have been mixing hundreds of recorded musical parts , with each track being recorded one at a time. I write the score before I go in my studio. Works are solo studio compositions or commissions for live soloist(s) and tape. I develop my own tuning systems and use multiple tempos at the same time. The first 20 years I produced dissonant dense textures. Since 2000 more melodic. ... more

contact / help

Contact Paul Dolden

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this track or account

If you like Paul Dolden, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now