Marilyn Bliss

Woodwind Quintet

“The Discovery of Honey,” commissioned by the Englewinds Ensemble for wind quintet with hand percussion, takes its inspiration from a painting by Piero di Cosimo from c. 1499, which depicts a story about the God Bacchus found in the “Fasti” by Ovid. In my adaptation, we find ourselves in the lush forests of the Rhodope Mountains, located in southern Bulgaria and northeastern Greece, where we hear the call of birds and other forest creatures. Into this landscape enter Bacchus and his companions (satyrs and bacchantes), enjoying the forest and good weather and gradually making more and more noise as they continue their travels. The increasingly loud crash of cymbals suddenly stirs unknown flying creatures, which buzz and swarm the group. These creatures (bees, of course) settle as a group in a tree hollow. In a sudden inspiration, Bacchus’s companions shut the bees in the hollow. Then they discover a mysterious oozing substance coming from where the bees gathered and take a taste – they are ecstatic! As the honey is gathered and shared, the satyrs and bacchantes celebrate in an increasingly joyful and frenetic celebration (Bacchus’s companion Silenius is drunk, of course) until they exhaust themselves. Then they go on their happy way, carrying some of the honey with them to share with others, along with the knowledge of how to find it. 

- Marilyn Bliss