The Siren

The Siren was composed in 2023.

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Duration: c. 5 minutes.

The piece tells the story of sailors encountering a siren as they journey across the sea, with the
vocalist representing the siren, and the piano representing the sailors.

The piece begins with a jaunty melody representing the beginning of sailor's journey, before
they encounter the dangers ahead. It is light, happy and adventurous.
The vocalist begins singing off stage, cutting off the piano - this section represents
the first encounter of the sailors and the siren. The sailors hear the creature from afar and they
attempt to get away before the siren sees them, in a scared and frantic passage of music at figure B.
Figure C represents the siren finding the sailors. The siren begins to sing an enchanting song
to lure the sailors, and the subsequent sections represent the siren taking over.
The vocalist takes the lead, and the pianist follows - representing the sailors being lured in
by the siren to their eventual death.
 

The lyrics used in this piece originated from a poem by James Russell Lowell, called The Sirens, which was written in 1840.

 

This work is categorised as a duet, rather than a work for solo voice with accompaniment, as the piano takes the focus in numerous sections, with the vocalist either not singing or taking an accompanying role.

 

Performances:

Mira Zhou (Voice), Agnes Kristianto (Piano). June 6, 2023. East Recital Hall, Sydney, Australia. International Premiere.
 

Price: $45