Composer

:

Sarah Kirkland Snider

Genre

:

Vocal

Average_duration

:

54:15

Movement_count

:

14

Movement ....

The Penelope cycle is a song cycle composed by Sarah Kirkland Snider, with lyrics by Ellen McLaughlin. It premiered on May 22, 2010, at the Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn, New York. The cycle consists of thirteen movements, each of which explores a different aspect of the character of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. The first movement, "The Stranger with the Face of a Man I Loved," sets the tone for the cycle, with Penelope reflecting on the absence of her husband and the arrival of suitors to her home. The second movement, "The Lotus Eaters," explores the temptation of forgetting one's past and present in favor of a blissful, drug-induced state. The third movement, "Calypso," depicts Penelope's jealousy and anger at Odysseus' affair with the goddess Calypso. The fourth movement, "The Lotus Eaters II," returns to the theme of forgetting, this time with a more ominous tone. The fifth movement, "The Cyclops," is a raucous, percussive piece that depicts the danger and violence of the monster Polyphemus. The sixth movement, "Circe and the Hanged Man," explores the transformative power of the sorceress Circe, as well as the sacrifice of Odysseus' men. The seventh movement, "The Weaving," is a haunting, ethereal piece that depicts Penelope's endless task of weaving and unweaving a shroud for her father-in-law. The eighth movement, "The Suitors," is a lively, rhythmic piece that depicts the arrogance and entitlement of the suitors who have taken over Penelope's home. The ninth movement, "The Suitors II," returns to the theme of danger and violence, as Penelope contemplates the possibility of murder. The tenth movement, "The Bow," is a tense, dramatic piece that depicts the contest in which Odysseus must string his bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe heads. The eleventh movement, "The Return," is a triumphant, soaring piece that depicts Odysseus' return to Ithaca and his reunion with Penelope. The twelfth movement, "The Stranger with the Face of a Man I Loved II," returns to the theme of absence and longing, as Penelope reflects on the years she spent waiting for her husband. The final movement, "The Penelopeiad," is a sweeping, epic piece that brings together all the themes and motifs of the cycle. It depicts Penelope's journey from despair to hope, from anger to forgiveness, and from isolation to community. The Penelope cycle is a powerful exploration of one of the most enduring characters in Western literature, and a testament to the enduring power of myth and storytelling.

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