The Fall of Icarus
SSA + string quartet
As a child, when I learned the story of Icarus, I interpreted it as a warning: listen to your elders or pay the consequences. I recently discovered that some people have a different take on the story: don’t let naysayers keep you from reaching for your dreams. This work combines the two views, with a quote attributed to Oscar Wilde (but not found in his collected works) surrounding the classic tale.
Although this was written for advanced children’s choir, it can also be performed by adult soprano/alto choirs.
Duration: 5:30 Difficulty: 3 (medium)
Unpublished: contact me to request a perusal score
Text
Attributed to Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
Never regret thy fall,
O Icarus of the fearless flight!
For the greatest tragedy of them all
is never to feel the burning light
Adapted from The Metamorphoses of Ovid,
translated by Henry T. Riley
Daedalus arranges feathers in order, beginning from the least.
Then he binds those in the middle with thread,
and the lowermost ones with wax;
and he bends them, to imitate real birds.
After the finishing hand was put to the work,
the workman poised his body upon the two wings.
He provided his son with them as well; and said to him,
“Icarus, I recommend thee to keep the middle tract;
if thou shouldst go too low, the water should clog thy wings;
if too high, the fire of the sun should scorch them.
Fly between both; under my guidance, take thy way.”
Raised upon his wings, he flies, and he encourages him to follow.
The boy began a bolder flight, and forsook his guide;
and with a desire of reaching heaven, pursued his course still higher.
The scorching Sun softened the fragrant wax that fastened his wings.
The wax was melted; he shook his naked arms, and caught no more air.
His face, as he called the name of his father, was received in the azure water.
Planning a performance? Let me know!
