syrinx from time changes by blood drum spirit

9 syrinx 4:56 © 1913 claude debussy; arrangement © 2015 blood drum spirit

syrinx was originally written as incidental music to the uncompleted play psyché by gabriel mourey, and was originally called ‘flûte de pan.’ since one of debussy's chansons de bilitis had already been given that title, it was given its final name in reference to the myth of the amorous pursuit of the nymph syrinx by the god pan, in which pan falls in love with syrinx. however, as syrinx does not return the love to pan, she turns herself into a water reed and hides in the marshes. pan cuts the reeds to make his pipes, in turn killing his love.

our concept for claude debussy’s composition for solo flute is to create an ensemble improvisation based on syrinx’s haunting sounds. we play it rubato throughout but with changing rhythmic feels and densities, leaving spaces in the original for improvisation and breathing.

i thought of this piece when i visited the cape coast, ghana, fortress/dungeons that were holding points for captive africans prior to their journey to the new world. the incredible horror of these prisons, dark, cold, with the voices of those held there still felt and heard, are expressed in our arrangement. our version of syrinx relates to the prisons all people face in life: physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual……….