Asgard

Asgard explores the Norse Gods and how they would be represented through music. Each movement utilises the forces of the wind orchestra and combines them in a variety of ways to create a unique soundscape. The work is in four movements: Odin: the Father of all Gods Frigg: Queen of Asgard Balder: God of Light Loki: Shapeshifter Odin displays the majesty and nobility of the father of all gods with fanfare-like motifs and broad sweeping melodies. The movement begins with a simple bass motif that represents the emptiness of the Nordic lands building with the power of the gods themselves. Frigg is the Queen of Asgard and the highest of the goddesses. She is married to Odin and the goddess of marriage. Although Frigg was married to the god of wisdom, she could outfox him and sometimes they agreed bets on certain things. Odin often asked his clever wife for advice on many issues and although she never made prediction, she knew a lot about the future. Balder is the son of Odin and Frigg, and with his friendliness, gentleness, and wisdom, he is loved by everyone in Asgard. He is so attractive that light shines all around him. When Balder had a horrible dream that his life was in danger, Frigg demanded an oath from every creature and object in the world that they would not harm Balder. However, she missed out one plant, the mistletoe, because she thought it was small and insignificant. When the gods were having fun shooting arrows at the "invincible" Balder, things went badly wrong. Treacherous Loki had an arrow made from mistletoe and during the games he gave it to Balder's blind brother Hodor and tricked him into shooting Balder dead. Loki sometimes assists the gods and sometimes behaves maliciously towards them through his shapeshifting. He is a trickster god and is known as the god of war and his daughter, Hel, is the goddess of the underworld. After causing the death of Balder, Loki was bound to a rock by the entrails of his son as punishment as a great serpent sat over head with poison dripping down. The poison caused Loki pain and this was believed where earthquakes came from.