Ariadne Rediviva by Atlantic Harp Duo

The rich imagery of Ariadne’s world and her experience of love and abandonment are the inspiration for the music of this album. Debussy’s Épigraphes antiques sets the scene and plays the role of the muse
who guides us through the tale. In the Minotaure, French composer Stéphane Delplace explores the warring inner natures of a creature who is at once man and beast. Originally written to be played by solo harp with taped recording, R. Murray Schafer’s Labyrinth Dance is heard here as a live duo. For Ariadne’s flight from Crete with her lover Theseus, American composer Roger Petersen portrays the storm that forced them to take cover on the isle of Naxos and forshadows Araidne’s abandonment in his Naxos and the Journey with Dia. Bacchus by French composer Damien Luce illustrates the carefree playfulness of Ariadne’s rescuer. At last, Canadian harpist/composer Caroline Lizotte brings the epic to a grand finale with Stellae Saltantem (Dancing Stars). Similar
to compatriot Schafer, Lizotte calls upon the harpists to incorporate a collection of percussion instruments into their performance as well as to lend their own voices to the mix.
As an extra bonus, and continuing along the theme of myths and storytelling, the Atlantic Harp Duo presents their own transcription of Ravel’s much-loved Mother Goose suite.

Founded in 2007, the Atlantic Harp Duo was born from a shared friendship and love of the harp. Marta Power and Elizabeth Jaxon, both native to the Great Lakes region of the United States, are now based in France and the Netherlands. Besides perform- ing in concerts halls and at festivals in Europe, they regularly venture across the Atlantic to present their music around the world.