The metamorphoses of ovid is probably one of the best known, certainly one of the most influential works of the ancient world. In the fifteen books of his metamorphoses the roman poet ovid gives in latin hexameters a compendium of greek and roman mythology and legend. Dittersdorf was born in the laimgrube now mariahilf district of vienna, austria, as august carl ditters. His sinfonias on ovids metamorphoses are a good introduction to his music. Dittersdorf represented ovid s four ages of the world.
Prometheus, who tempers the earth, and minerva, who animates his workmanship, is god, who formed man, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Comprising 11,995 lines, 15 books and over 250 myths, the poem chronicles the history of the world from its creation to the deification of julius caesar within a loose mythicohistorical framework. Haydn is said to have been a friend and admirer of dittersdorf. According to ovid, as in the book of genesis, man is the last work of the creator. Books i, iii, x and xv by ovid, translated by charles martin isbn. Dittersdorf also brought with him the 12 completed ovid symphonies, and arranged for their performance in the augarten over the course of two concerts in may of that year. Cover of george sandyss 1632 edition of ovids metamorphosis englished. But how can we be full of the book that has no plot. It consists of a narrative poem in fifteen books that describes the creation and history of the world through mythological tales, starting with a cosmogony and finishing with the deification of julius caesar. That said, you might be surprised by the wide range of transformations that happen in ovid s book. Get a detailed summary and analysis of every chapter in the book from.
Ovid publius ovidius naso, 43 bce17 ce, born at sulmo, studied rhetoric and law at rome. Ovid s metamorphoses and dittersdorf s twelve symphonies on ovid s. Carl dittersdorfs sinfonias on ovids metamorphoses, no. Perseus and andromeda summary of metamorphoses by ovid. The national gallery and the royal ballet published a catalogue book entitled titian metamorphosis art music dance, art books publishing. Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 book 7 book 8 book 9 book 10 book 11 book 12 book book 14. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. It was the gripping account of the petrifaction of phineus and his associates that provided the stimulus for this, the last of dittersdorf s six symphonies after ovid, and this d major work is one. See more ideas about ovid metamorphoses, ovid quotes and renaissance art.
However, few realize the many composers besides those greats that had influence on the classical period as well. Metamorphoses is a latin narrative poem by the roman poet ovid, considered his magnum opus. Dittersdorf wrote 12 programmatic symphonies based on ovids metamorphoses. Comprising fifteen books and over 250 myths, the poem chronicles the history of the world from its creation to the deification of julius caesar within a loose mythicohistorical framework. In the fifteen books of his metamorphoses the roman poet ovid gives in latin. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. The edition contains an introduction discussing the life and work of ovid as well as a preface to each book, explanatory notes and an index of people, gods and places. His sinfonias on ovid s metamorphoses are a good introduction to his music. The information derived from holy writ is here presented to us, in a disfigured form.
Beethovens pastoral symphony as a sinfonia caracteristica, the musical quarterly, vol. Visit decluttr for great deals and super savings with free shipping today. Dittersdorf also brought with him the 12 completed ovid symphonies, and arranged for their performance in the augarten over the course of two concerts in may of that year, the same month that. Chapter summary for ovids metamorphoses, book 10 summary. This lively, accessible new translation by david raeburn is in hexameter verse, which brilliantly captures the energy and spontaneity of the original. Metamorphoses, poem in 15 books, written in latin about 8 ce by ovid. The fifth symphony is based on the petrification of phineus and his friends described in book 5 and the. Englished, mythologized, and represented in figures, by g sandys, ed by k k hulley and s t vandersall, revd. The metamorphoses of ovid questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the metamorphoses. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Later he did considerable public service there, and otherwise. Dittersdorf s original plan called for a set of 15 symphonies, one representative of each book of ovid s poem. Summary of the work ovid himself sums up his poetic intention in the introductory quatrain fourline unit of the metamorphoses my intention is to tell of bodies changed to different forms. May 22, 2012 the hagues baroque orchestra, the new dutch academy, with conductor simon murphy and soloists caroline copeland baroque dance and choreography, soprano stefanie true and oboist amy power, perform.
Comprising fifteen books and over 250 myths, the poem. As well as the latin text, readers could have encountered french adaptations such as this manuscript, or come across individual tales in english through writers like chaucer. Summing up the plot of ovid s metamorphoses is easy. The metamorphoses of the roman poet ovid contains, in its fifteen books. The minotaur, king midas, arachne, icharus, narcissus, echo, orpheus, and many more are brought to life by alan lees haunting illustrations, and adrian mitchells beautiful verse and clear concise prose that captures much of the essence of the original work. The penultimate installment in this sixsymphony cycle after ovid s metamorphoses, a 15 volume survey of greek and roman legend, takes as its theme a lurid tale contained in the sixth book. Apr 08, 2019 this work was published before january 1, 1925, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. Some may think he overdoes the crecendos but i think they are well crafted and fun, in particular in the first allegro of the acteon sinfonia which is my favorite in this recording. In spite of the title, this is not simplya book of changes in latin hexameters, but an inspired and. Dittersdorfs original plan called for a set of 15 symphonies, one representative of each book of ovids poem.
Dittersdorf was obliged to seek out a court official to authorise the postponement and in doing so found himself in conversation with the emperor himself, an event that he recounts in some detail. Find a summary of this and each chapter of metamorphoses. Books of transformations is a latin narrative poem by the roman poet ovid, considered his magnum opus. Dittersdorf s orchestral setting using pairs of flutes, oboes, and horns with the usual strings is in fact the most classically disposed of the series. Oct 01, 2009 this is a really stunning introduction to some of the most famous tales from ovid s metamorphoses. The work is a collection of mythological and legendary stories, many taken from greek sources, in which transformation metamorphosis plays a role, however minor. Shakespeare and other english readers of his day could have come into contact with ovids metamorphoses in a number of ways. Carl dittersdorfs sinfonias o n ovids metamorphoses, no. The music lacks the genius of mozart but it has flashes of inventiveness and inspiration. Jul 23, 2014 the national gallery and the royal ballet published a catalogue book entitled titian metamorphosis art music dance, art books publishing, 20 isbn 9781908970046, the new poems were also compiled in a book to accompany the exhibition. The relevant portion of sandyss essay on book x provides a. Metamorphoses book x 10 ovid translation mythology. The three extracts do not have to be read and studied in any particular order, as each is selfcontained.