solo piano

4:00

Icarus, Towards the Flame is inspired by the Greek myth about a boy who plunges to his death after flying too close to the sun, while his father, Daedalus, looks on. The work begins in the mind of Daedalus. Descending scales represent his thoughts as he reflects on the past, while a slow, building arpeggio creeps up from the lower register of the piano. This arpeggio, accompanied by pulsating chords representing the sun, represents Icarus in flight. As it builds to a climax, Daedalus begins to relive the tragic event. The arpeggios first soar over the pulsating chords, then plunge back to the lower register of the piano as Icarus tries again to reach for the sun. As he comes closer again, the arpeggios continuously grow larger and the pulsating chords are transformed into fiery tremolos. The work builds up to the moment Icarus comes closest to the sun, glimpsing its beauty, before plunging to his death.