Bruce Kvam

Normal Sinus Rhythm -- Atrial Flutter -- Normal Sinus Rhythm -- Atrial Fibrillation -- Bradycardia

Sections: Leda and the Swan — The Twins and Helen — The Abduction of Helen — Rescue of Helen — The Suitors — The Wedding of Helen and Menelaus — The Voyage of the Argo — The Feast — The Abduction of the Leucippides — The Cousins Fight — Castor’s Death — Helen’s Coda The Myth of Gemini Leda, queen of Sparta, basks in the palace garden. She catches the eye of Zeus in Olympus. He transforms himself into a swan and commands an eagle to chase him into Leda’s arms. With the help of Cupid, Zeus seduces Leda while a swan. Leda also lies with her husband, King Tyndareos. The unions produce two eggs, resulting in the births of two boys — Castor and Pollux — and two girls — Helen and Clytemnestra. Helen and Pollux are children of Zeus and are immortal, while Clytemnestra and Caster are children of Tyndareos and are mortal. Helen’s beauty is renowned throughout the land. Theseus and Peirithous abduct Helen and spirit her away to Athens, to be Theseus’ wife. They leave Helen in the care of Theseus’ mother, Aethra, and leave to abduct Persephone for Peirithous. Castor and Pollux rescue Helen, taking Aethra as a slave. The twins return Helen to Sparta, where Leda and Tyndareos decide it is time for her to marry. Castor and Pollux scrutinize potential suitors and decide upon Menelaus of Laconia. After Helen and Menelaus are wed, Castor and Pollux and their cousins Lynceus and Idas, sons of Aphareos, join Jason and the crew of the Argo. They slay the Calydonian boar, brave the women of Lemnos, defeat Amycos of the Bebryces in a boxing match and win the Golden Fleece. After a long and circuitous journey they return home. Helen prepares a great feast for her brothers and their cousins. Many kings and nobles are invited, including Paris of Troy. At the feast Aphareos announces the betrothal of his sons to the Leucippides sisters. Castor and Pollux feel betrayed: the girls’ father had promised the girls to the twins. They abduct the women. Lynceus and Idas pursue them. Lynceas ambushes Castor under cover of darkness and kills Castor. A bloody brawl ensues and Pollux kills Lynceus. As Idas aims a killing blow at Pollux, Zeus strikes him down with a bolt of lightning from Olympus. Pollux pleads with Zeus to spare his brother’s life. Zeus makes them the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini, and allows Castor to share Pollux’s immortality. The twins alternate between Olympus and Hades. Left alone with Helen, Paris seduces Helen and takes her away to Troy, starting the Trojan War.

Sections: Europa and the Maidens — Zeus Spies Europa — The Cattle — The White Bull — Crossing the Sea — The Declaration of Zeus — The Rape of Europa The Myth of Taurus Europa, daughter of King Agenor of Sidon, is frolicking by the sea with her friends. Zeus spies Europa from Olympus and is smitten by her beauty. He transforms himself into the form of a white bull. The white bull joins the herd of cattle near the girls and presents himself to Europa. The girls are struck by the gentleness of the bull. They pet him and Europa climbs on his back. Zeus immediately dives into the sea with Europa clinging to his neck. The bull crosses the sea to Crete. When they reach land Zeus transforms into a man and declares his love to Europa, promising her many famous sons. She demurs, but Zeus takes her against her will.

Sections: Athamas and Nephele — Jealous Queen — Famine — False Oracle — Sacrifice — Rescue — Helle Falls — Wedding of Phrixos and Chalciope The Myth of Aries Athamas, king of Orchomenos, has taken Nephele, a cloud nymph, as his wife. They have two children, Phrixos and Helle. After a time Nephele becomes morose, so Athamas divorces her and takes Ino as a wife. Ino is conniving and jealous of Phrixos and Helle. She poisons the grain, causing a famine. She bribes the Oracle’s messenger to say that Phrixos must be sacrificed to end the famine. Nephele hears of the plot and sends Aries, a golden ram, to save her son. But as the children are spirited away, Helle falls into the Hellespont — which is now named for her — and is killed. Phrixos gets to Colchis, where King Aeëtes, gives Phrixos his daughter in marriage. In gratitude, Phrixos sacrifices the ram and gives the golden fleece to Aeëtes.

Prelude to The Zodiac, a suite of symphonic poems about the constellations of the zodiac. Based on the Greek myths.