A Border Composer's Blog
Athene Promachos. Mov. 4. Symphonic Wind Band Symphony No. 1. The Hellenic. 2021
Athene Promachos. Mov. 4. Symphonic Wind Band Symphony No. 1. The Hellenic. 2021
The History
Athene Promachos was a 30ft high statue bronze statue sculpted by Pheidias. It was erected in 456 BC. ‘Promachos’ meant ‘fighting before’ or ‘in the front line.’ This was Athene’s guise as the defender of the city. It was either erected to memorialize the Battle of Marathon (480 BC) or The Peloponessinam Wars. Athene faced towards the island of Salamis where the City was evacuated to before the first Persian Invasion in 480. Xerxes fleet was defeated at Salamis by Themistokles. We know battle trophies from the Peloponnesian War were placed at the statue's base. Athene Promachos stood between the Propylaea and the Parthenon and would have been visible from afar. It would have been an incredible, majestic sight from any location in the city. Indeed, Pausanias tell us the first glimpse of Athens from approaching ships was the reflective glint of Athene’s helmet and the tip of her spear. The statue stood on top of the Acropolis for over 1000 years.
The Music
Although the final movement, its evolution began back in 1980-81 while I was at Kneller Hall. The material used in the works restructuring in 2021, is both new and draws on motives from other movements. Athene Promachos opens with a subdued rising motive adapted from Paralos. A horn melody appears over the rising motive which is in the aeolian mode. It is a few hours before dawn and Athene is silhouetted against the dark sky. At bar 37 the high woodwind introduces what will become an ostinato section. On two occasions the reflective mood is lifted by brief, brass passages; breaks in the cloud bathe Athene in the moonlight. The ostinato returns and is subject to eight variations with the ostinato shifting pitches and keys. The ostinato draws to a close and there is a return to the original subdued mood. At the base of Athene’s base are piled the trophies from battles commemorating victories and reminding us of the victims of war. Sunrise is approaching! The eye is drawn upwards where rays of light dance over the bronze body of Athene. The opening theme of the first movements reminds us of the significance of Athene as the City’s protector. The sun intensifies. The brass announces the arrival of day and Athene is revealed in all her glory. Material from the movement’s opening is used here. And then, a change of key, a bright key, as Athene’s helmet dazzles in the sun. Almost aligh, Athene’s spear tip and helmet cast their fire far out to sea; a glorious beacon for seamen returning home. Noble Athene, the protectress of the city, and a symbol of the glory of the emerging Greek world.
The Hellenic Symphony (for symphonic wind band) is published by Larch Music and can be purchased as an entire symphony, or in individual movements.