Description

Far out to sea in Stockholm’s northeastern archipelago lies the remote island of Källskär in the Sea of Åland. From the highest rock on this secluded island, a large statue of the Greek god Hermes dominates the skyline. This particular statue, known as the Roman Mercury, is a copy of Giovanni da Bologna’s sixteenth-century original. Hermes stands with one foot on a column of air pouring from the mouth of Zephyr, Greek god of warm spring winds, poised to fly away in Zephyr’s breeze. In his hand is the caduceus magic staff with two snakes wrapped around it, the symbol of alchemy, astrology, and peace.

When Isomäki sailed with her family around this Finnish archipelago on the Baltic Sea, this prominent sculpture fascinated her, and Hermes of Källskär thus became the inspiration for her composition for piano, two trumpets, trombone, and French horn. Each of the four movements evokes some aspect of the island in its harsh geographical setting and ever changing seasons. The first movement, The View of Hermes, describes the bare rocks of the coast and a view of the open sea in summer, with Hermes sometimes wrapped in mist but always full of life. In the harsh winter of the second movement, Hermes Hibernates, the birds have flown south, the sea has frozen, daylight is scarce, and Hermes must hibernate to survive the treacherous winds which literally destroy the island’s harbor every winter. The third movement, Spirit of the Island, portrays the merciless nature of the archipelago, which is always ready to mock and destroy any work of human hands. In the fourth movement, Hermes and the Sea, the dramatic struggle ends and nothing remains but the sound of the waves.

Instrumentation

2trp, hn, trb, pno

Category

Chamber Works

Premiere

Chris Fensom, trumpet, Luke Boudreault, trumpet, Frank Merritt, horn, Chris Ferguson, trombone, Dorothy Lewis-Griffith, piano, February 14, 2016 Salisbury, NC, USA

Movements

1. Hermeksen näköala - The View of Hermes 2. Hermes nukkuuu talviunta - Hermes hibernates 3. Saaren henki - Spirit of the Island 4. Hermes ja meri - Hermes and the Sea

Commisioned by / dedications

Catawba College and Dr Dorothy Lewis-Griffith

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