''L'envol d'Icare'' (''The Flight of
Icarus
In Greek mythology, Icarus (; grc, Ἴκαρος, Íkaros, ) was the son of the master craftsman Daedalus, the architect of the labyrinth of Crete. After Theseus, king of Athens and enemy of Minos, escaped from the labyrinth, King Minos suspe ...
'') is a score written (but never performed) as a ballet by the
Ukrainian
Ukrainian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Ukraine
* Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe
* Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine
* So ...
composer
Igor Markevitch
Igor Borisovich Markevitch (russian: Игорь Борисович Маркевич, ''Igor Borisovich Markevich'', uk, Ігор Борисович Маркевич, ''Ihor Borysovych Markevych''; 27 July 1912 – 7 March 1983) was a Russian- ...
in 1932–33. It is notable for featuring groups of instruments tuned a
quarter-tone
A quarter tone is a pitch halfway between the usual notes of a chromatic scale or an interval about half as wide (aurally, or logarithmically) as a semitone, which itself is half a whole tone. Quarter tones divide the octave by 50 cents each, a ...
above and below the rest of the orchestra, and for its use of
polyrhythms
Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The rhythmic layers may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rhyth ...
.
History
The work was intended as part of a ballet, with choreography by
Serge Lifar
Serge Lifar ( ua, Сергій Михайлович Лифар, ''Serhіy Mуkhailovуch Lуfar'') ( 15 December 1986) was a Ukrainian ballet dancer and choreographer, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century. No ...
. Markevitch wrote the initial sketches during a holiday spent at
Cap Ferrat
Cap Ferrat (; en, Cape Ferrat) is a cape situated in the Alpes-Maritimes department in Southeastern France. It is located in the commune of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
Hospitius lived there as a recluse during the 6th century. Thus, the cape is ...
in summer 1932. Lifar was initially positive about the music when he first heard it towards the end of that year, but then cooled; he concluded that, "the music was admirable, the idea of its union with dance seductive, but I had a clear sense that it would be impossible for me to bring my rhythm into accord with that of Markevitch."
Instead, Lifar agreed to a concert performance of the work, on Monday, 26 June 1933, under
Roger Désormière
Roger Désormière () (13 September 1898 – 25 October 1963) was a French conductor. He was an enthusiastic champion of contemporary composers, but also conducted performances of early eighteenth century French music.
Life and career
Désormièr ...
. The composer started work on a version for two pianos and three percussion the same year, and reworked the orchestral version as ''Icare'' in 1943, removing the altered tuning and some of the rhythmic complexities.
At last in 1935 Lifar choreographed his ballet without music, using the rhythm produced by dancers only. It was renewed for ''
Original Ballet Russe
The Original Ballet Russe (originally named Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo) was a ballet company established in 1931 by René Blum and Colonel Wassily de Basil as a successor to the Ballets Russes, founded in 1909 by Sergei Diaghilev. The company ...
'' Australian tour in 1939.
Movements
The work is in seven movements, lasting a total of approximately 27 minutes.
#Prélude
#Jeux des Adolescents (Eveil de la Connaissance) (Games of the Adolescents (Awakening Knowledge))
#Icare attrape deux colombes... il étudie leur vol (Icarus traps two doves... he studies their flight)
#Icare se fait fixer des ailes aux épaules: il essaye à voler (Icarus has wings fixed to his shoulders: he attempts flight)
#L'Envol d'Icare (The Flight of Icarus)
#Où l'on apprend la chute d'Icare (Where news of Icarus's fall is received)
#La mort d'Icare (Icarus's Death)
References
Boosey and Hawkes catalogue*Lyndon-Gee, Christopher
{{Authority control
Compositions by Igor Markevitch
Ballets by Serge Lifar
1933 compositions
1935 ballet premieres