A Pagan Poem

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A Pagan Poem is a tone poem for orchestra composed in 1906 by Charles Martin Loeffler. Originally scored for piano, woodwinds, violin, and contrabass, the work was soon rescored for two pianos and three trumpets. The final version, which in addition to traditional forces included piano obbligato, solo English horn, and three solo trumpets, was introduced on November 23, 1907 by the Boston Symphony under the direction of Karl Muck.

Loeffler derived his inspiration for the work from the eighth eclogue of Virgil, in which a maiden of Thessaly uses magic to revive her lover's ardor once he has deserted her. Rather than follow the program literally, the composer chose to depict moods and feelings suggested by the text. The trumpets are used offstage, first against a background of piano and timpani and next as chromatic accompaniment to a declamation from the English horn.

[edit] Reference

  • David Ewen, Encyclopedia of Concert Music. New York; Hill and Wang, 1959.
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