Icarus, The Boy Who Could Fly
Program Notes
The myth of Icarus is an ancient Greek story of a boy who makes wings out of feathers and wax, and gains the ability to fly. He is warned by his father though that he can not fly to high because the sun will melt his wings and he will fall into the ocean. His son agrees, and seems to understand. However once in the air young Icarus gets lost in the excitement of flying and soars too close to the sun and falls to his peril. Icarus tries to capture the feeling and excitement a boy might feel flying, and the sadness his father feels when his son crashes to the earth. The piece closes with the same opening gesture to remember that although Icarus had passed away, I believe he experienced something every young boy might want, and that is the gift of flight.