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The Story Of Apollo & Marsyas
Stephen Fry, Debbie Wiseman & National Symphony Orchestra, UK
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If the Greek myths agree about one thing, it is the foolish
Recklessness of challenging the gods. Arachne thought she was
A better weaver than the goddess Athene, and was turned into
A spider for her impudence. Few were punished as severely as
The satyr Marsyas, whose story should be a warning to us all
Mortal humans were not the only beings capable of exhibiting
Excessive pride. The goddess Athena's injured self-regard led
Indirectly, to the downfall of a conceited satyr called Marsyas
It all began when Athena proudly invented a new
Musical instrument, which she named the aulos
There was one problem with this splendid instrument. Whenever Athena
Played it, gorgeous as the music that emerged undoubtedly was
It elicited from her fellow Olympians nothing but roars of laughter
There was no way for Athena to get a good sound from it without
Blowing so hard that her cheeks bulged. To see this goddess
The very personification of dignity, going all pink and swelling
Up like a bullfrog was more than her disrespectful family could
Take without howling out loud. Wise as Athena was, and free
For the most part, of affectation and conceit, she was not
Entirely without vanity and could not bear to be mocked. After
Three attempts to win the gods over with the mellifluous sounds of
Her new instrument, she cursed it and cast it down from Olympus
The aulos fell to earth in Asia Minor, in the kingdom of Phrygia
Near the source of the Maeander River, whose winding course
Lends its name to all mazy wandering streams, where it was
Picked up by a satyr called Marsyas. As a follower of Dionysus
Marsyas was gifted with curiosity, as well as many more
Disreputable traits. He dusted the aulos off and blew into it
A small peep was the only result. He laughed and scratched
At the tickling buzz in his lips. He puffed and blew hard
Again until a long, loud musical note was produced. This
Was fun. He went on his way blowing and blowing until he
Could, after a surprisingly short time, play a real tune
Within a month or two, his fame had spread around all of Asia Minor
And Greece. He became celebrated as Marsyas the Musical, whose skill
On the aulos could make trees dance and stones sing. He revelled in
The fame and adulation that his musicianship brought. Like all satyrs
, He required little more than wine, women and song to make him happy
And his mastery of the third ensured a ready supply of the other two
One evening, the fire crackling, Maenads at his feet, gazing
Up adoringly at him, he called drunkenly to the heavens
"Hey there! Apollo! You! God of the lyre! You think
You're so musical! I bet if there were a compition
. A compention... a condition... what's the word?"
"Competition?" suggested a drowsy Maenad
"One of them, yes! If there was a... what she said... I'd
Win! Easy! Hands down! Anyone can strum a lute. Boring!
But my pipes! My pipes beat your strings any day! So there!"
The next day, Marsyas set off with his many followers to Lake
Aulocrine. They had arranged to meet other satyrs there for
A great feast, at which Marsyas would play wild Corybantic
Dances of his own composition. Piping and dancing, he led his
Followers in a merry trail of music, until he turned a corner
To find his way blocked by a dazzling and disturbing spectacle
In the meadow, a stage had been erected, on which sat the Nine
Muses in a broad semicircle. At the centre of the stage, lute in
Hand, stood Apollo, a grim smile playing on his beautiful lips
"Well, Marsyas," said Apollo. "Are you
Ready to put your brave words to the test?"
"Words? What words?"
Marsyas had forgotten his drunken boast of the night before. "
If there was a competition between me and Apollo," you said, "I would
Beat him hands down." Now is your chance to find out if that is true
The Muses themselves have travelled from Parnassus
To hear us and judge. Their word is final
B-b-but I...!
Are you, or are you not a finer musician than I?
B-but... but I...
Marcius heard behind him a murmur of doubt from his
Followers, and the flames of his pride flared up again
In a fair contest, I can certainly outplay you!
In a fair contest, he declared with a burst
Of bravado, I can certainly outplay you
Apollo's smile widened
Excellent. Join me up on the stage here. I shall start
Here is a little air. See if you can reply to it
Apollo turned to the jury of Muses
Sweet sisters, it is not for me to say: it is of course for
You to decide. To whom do you award the palm of victory?
They can't be impartial! They're your aunts or your stepsisters or
Some such incestuous thing! They are
Family! They will never dare to...
Hush, Marsyas, pleaded a Maenad
Don't listen to him, great god Apollo, urged another
He's hysterical. He's good and honorable. He means well
It did not take the Muses long to confer and to announce the results
We unanimously declare, said Euterpe, that Apollo is the winner
Apollo bowed and smiled sweetly. But what he did next might make
You forever think less of this golden and beautiful god, the
Melodious Apollo of reason, charm, and harmony. He took Marsyas
. And flayed the skin off him. There is no nice way of saying it
To punish him for his hubris in daring to challenge an Olympian
He peeled the skin from the living body of the screaming satyr
. And hung it on a pine tree as a lesson and warning to all
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