Four Studies in Mythology

"Four Studies in Mythology" is a piece for unaccompanied tuba written in four movements. Each movement tells the story of a mythological tale or figure from around the world. The first movement tells the story of the Norse trickster god, Loki as he deceives the principal gods (Aesir) into killing one of their own with a mistletoe arrow. Comical trills imitate the diabolical laughter of Loki, as he leaps about in a tri-tone figure, signifying his sinister motives. The second movement comes from the myths of the Polynesian peoples. Maui, the often (though not always) hero and demi-god draws forth the Pacific islands from the depths of the sea using his magical fishhook. Many different poeples tell this tale, each with a unique twist. The piece begins slowly and in a low register, symbolizing the dark ocean depths. Slowly, the four-note figure is drawn up from the depths faster and faster until they finally see the light of day (which, ironically, Maui is also responsible for achieving). Movement three tells the Greek myth of Thetis attempting to hide her son, Achilles as a woman on the island of Scyros - she hopes that this will keep him safe from the coming Trojan War and a doom-filled prophecy. Unfortunately, the masterfully cunning hero, Odysseus arrives and begins to sniff out the deception. This movement should be performed playfully, indicating the covert game between the disguised Achilles and a determined Odysseus. The last movement retells a myth of the Shoshone people, indigenous to North America. In this tale, the benevolent and sly coyote steals the gift of fire from the divine beings and brings it to people. This movement starts as coyote (whole-tone scale) slowly creeps up to the fire before quickly darting off on a chase to bring his gift to man.