Artemis and the Red Dragon

Artemis and the Red Dragon (2007) (4:54) for Flute and Piano. Copyright © Mihai Popean, 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Winner of the 1st Prize, Craig’s Piano Keyboard Composition Competition, University of Toledo, Ohio, USA.

USA Premiere: April 11, 2007 (J.M Kane and K. Reilly).

Commissioned by and dedicated to Michael Liu at Bowling Green State University University in the Spring of 2007.

Program Notes:

Usually depicted hunting a deer, Artemis is known as the Goddess of Hunt and the Queen of Animals, but also of forests and hills, child birth, virginity, and fertility, further identified with the Greek goddesses Hecate and Selene (moon goddess), the Roman goddess Diana, and the Etruscan goddess Artume. Artemis devoted herself to the chase.  As an immortal goddess of hunt endowed with all attributes of a deity I was always disappointed with her taking delight in killing defenseless wild animals. As a consequence, in this short epic she meets a worthy opponent: the Red Dragon, a mythical creature endowed with magical powers who does not end up as a hunt trophy, quite the contrary.

Moments:

  1. The Chase
  2. The Capture
  3. Dance Macabre
  4. The Draw

Performances:

30th Spring New Music Festival. J.M Kane, flute; K. Reilly, piano. Department of Music, University of Toledo, Apr. 11, 2007. Premiere.