Chamber Music Two Flutes,
Piano
SKU:
PR.114408650
For 2
Flutes and Piano.
Composed by Robert
Maggio. Spiral, Saddle,
Tape. Set of Score and
Parts. With Standard
notation. 56 + 32 pages.
Duration 20 minutes.
Theodore Presser Company
#114-40865. Published by
Theodore Presser Company
(PR.114408650).
UPC:
680160013180. 8.5 x 11
inches.
The Laurel
Tree is rooted in the
world of mythology, for
it reflects the legend of
Daphne and Apollo. As the
story goes, Cupid, in a
fit of spite, shot Apollo
with an arrow that rouses
love, then shot Daphne
with an arrow that
vanquishes love. Upon
seeing Daphne, Apollo
fell passionately in
love. When he approached
her, Daphne fled in
terror, and Apollo chased
after her. Just as she
was about to be caught by
Apollo, Daphne cried for
help to her father, the
river-god Peneus. She
begged him to change her,
to destroy her beauty, so
that Apollo would no
longer persue her. And
so, Peneus turned her
into a radiant laurel
tree. The Laurel Tree
looks at the legend of
Daphne in psychological
terms. In an essay titled
Schizophrenia - the
Inward Journey, Joseph
Campbell refers to the
image of Daphne turning
into a laurel tree as the
image of a psychosis, and
shows that the imagery of
the mythological hero
journey matches that of
schizophrenic fantasy.
The movement titles and
the structure of the
piece are influenced by
Campbell's writings on
mythology, particularly
his universal formula of
the hero's journey. The
first movement is based
on the legend as
described above, up to
the moment Daphne is
turned into a laurel
tree. The second movement
explores Daphne's inward
retreat, deep into her
psyche and backward in
time, toward chaotic and
terrifying experiences,
to recover something
missed or lost. The third
movement tracks Daphne's
return journey of rebirth
to life, in harmony, at
peace, richer, stronger,
and more joyous.
