Song of the Enchanter
Thea Musgrave (b.1928)

THE STORY

     Thea Musgrave is one of the most respected composers in the Western world, with honors including two Guggenheim Fellowships, and in 2002 was named a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. Musgrave was born in Scotland and began her higher education at the University of Scotland. She went on to study at the Paris Conservatoire with the famed teacher Nadia Boulanger, who taught many of the most important composers of the 20th century—Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, and Elliot Carter, among others. 
     Like much of Musgrave’s work, Song of the Enchanter vividly conveys dramatic narratives. Composed in 1990 for the Helsinki Philharmonic, the brief, five-minute piece was written in honor of the 125th anniversary of Sibelius’ birth. Musgrave based it on an episode from the Kalevala, a Finnish epic that had inspired Sibelius’ Lemminkäinen Suite. She incorporates hints of Sibelius, including his great Symphony No. 5.
     In the original program note for the work, the composer shared, “…Väinämäinen, the hero-God, has fashioned a magical five-stringed instrument from the bones of a giant pike. Orpheus-like, he plays upon it and enchants the people. All listen and all weep, their hearts melted. Even Väinämäinen weeps and his tears ‘bigger than cranberries’ fall into the clear waters of the deep blue sea. A sea-bird dives down to retrieve his tears—they have ripened into pearls.”

LISTEN FOR

• The opening swirling figure in the winds 

• Harp glissandi (rapid figures up and down the instrument) throughout the work, perhaps representing the “magical instrument” 

• Swelling dynamics that help create an otherworldly atmosphere

• The semi-improvisations of the winds and brass in the middle section; they are given a framework of pitches and rhythms, but the performers determine how often to play them 

• The colorful chromatic scale runs toward the end of the work and an abrupt ending

INSTRUMENTATION

Two flutes, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, percussion, harp, piano, strings