Arachne

Anders Brødsgaard's Arachne (2011) - for five instruments. Programme Note: A melodic ”thread” runs through the 14 minute piece sometimes smooth and unisone sometimes harmonized or even ”flossed up” into smaller threads. The title might make you think in terms of spiders (lat.: Arachnida) but Arachne is also the name of a weaver in roman mythology who dared to compete with the goddess Minerva in the art of weaving and was transformed into a spider as punishment (Ovid). The name is also close to that of another mythical female figure Ariadne who span her thread to help Theseus find his way out ofthe labyrinth. Biology and myth weaved together. The title is pure association though as it turned up after the piece was finished.

Arachne by Helen Grime was commissioned by the Gregynog Festival (Artistic Director Rhian Davies) and first performed by Nicholas Daniel on 28 June 2013 in the gardens at Gregynog.

A dramatic song cycle for soprano solo in four movements. The accompaniment is for crotale (or any other suitable percussion instrument) and the performer can add stage movement costume and lighting to create theatrical effect.