Here you will find the original source writings behind the Peirene myth, demo recordings of Fountain's chamber music sets based upon that myth, and a simple visual rendering of Fountain's water theme.

Also, the concept and setlist PDFs are below:
  *  fountain-concept  
  *  fountain-order

Drink deep!

[Return to collaborator's landing page]

 


Story

In the second century, Pausanias describes the Peirene fountain:

The legend about Peirene is that she was a woman who became a spring because of her tears shed in lamentation for her son Cenchrias, who was unintentionally killed by Artemis. Today, her spring is ornamented with white marble, and there have been made chambers like caves, out of which the water flows into an open-air well.  It is pleasant to drink, and they say that the Corinthian bronze, when red-hot, is tempered by this water...


[As an historical aside... It is interesting to note that, for centuries, the leaders of Greece displayed their wealth by building atop the previous ruler's marble enclosures, one-upping each other every 50 years or so.  This natural spring near Corinth was believed to be a home for the Muses, not the 9 of the Rennaissance, but the original Three led by Aoede, the first Muse.  It is mostly dry now, but as you can see, some water still flows.  Eventually, St. Paul preached and converted many to the new Christian faith here, before he was thrown out by the Romans.]   


Music

Fountain's chamber music sets are the only fixed component of the production (dj sets may change in different venues based on time-constraints, etc.).  Each chamber music set is approximately 20 to 30 minutes long.  At present, there are two different versions of the chamber sets, one with amplified string quartet and the other with the Lumia Ensemble (amplified violin with FX, piano and synths, bass with FX, and MIDI drum kit).  The first chamber set is "I. Peirene's Lament" and it musically depicts the accidental death, Peirene's sufffering, her descent into madness, and the eventual intervention of the gods.  The second set, "II. Metamorphoses" depicts her transformation into the fountain. 

The DJs/electronic musicians will provide the Prologue, the Interlude, and the Epilogue (before, between and after the chamber music sets as detailed in the "fountain order" PDF above).  Their work will build upon the themes of the chamber music using the supplied MIDI files. 

Both musical elements, classical and DJ/electronic, are unified by their common relationship to the story as well as their thematic, harmonic, and contrapuntal content.

     Prologue: More demos coming... Set is typically an ambient warm up for later peaks...

     I. Peirene's Lament (click here to listen)
        1. Accidental Death
        2. Descent into Madness
        3. Misericordia
        4. Choral Purification

    Interlude:click here for a draft MP3 excerpt from the D.C. launch show...

    II. Metamorphoses (click here to listen)
        1. Transmutation of Tears
        2. Meditation on Past Sorrows
        3. Aeode's Arrival
        4. Water Waltz

    Epilogue: More demos coming... Set closes show with more upbeat techno climax...


Water

As one of many pre-christian resurrection myths, Peirene's story suggests broader themes that have been passed down for millenia.  The purifying power of water is one of those themes which transcends cultural and historical context.

We ask that all collaborators find their own way to explore the water theme... Many of our Fountain venues actually have built-in water features that we can work with and those that don't can be transformed via video projection.

A simple visual rendering is below...