Siren Songs

TRIO WORKS / EP / 2018

  • The EP includes six songs, each one unwrapping a magnificent adventure -- from man's first flight with Daedalus and Icarus to Edgar Allan Poe’s otherworldly description of the Elysian Fields. In each piece, Elusive Aura manages to expose and shed new light upon unknown peculiarities hidden within the protagonists of these ancient stories.

    1. Prelude

    2. Daedalus & Icarus

    3. Orpheus

    4. Helen of Troy

    5. Serenade

    6. Siren Songs

  • All music composed by Konstantine Margaritis

    Recorded at The Famous Gold Watch Studios, Berlin on December 10, 2017

    Engineered by Cameron Laing, assistant engineer Alan the Studio Cat

    Mixed and Mastered by Konstantine Margaritis

    Released on April 27, 2018

Orpheus

A legendary musician and poet, Orpheus had the ability to charm both the living and the dead with his music. Upon the death of his newly-wed wife, Eurydice, he played such sad and mournful songs, that even the nymphs and gods wept in compassion.

Helen of Troy

One of the most intriguing myths of all, is that of the most beautiful woman of the Ancient World. Her beauty was impossible to describe with words, and was tragically destined to spark the Trojan War. Helen of Troy may have been extraordinarily beautiful, but beware; there is more to her story than that which meets the eye.

Words

— Daedalus & Icarus

The most famous inventor of the Ancient World, Daedalus, and his son Icarus were unjustly imprisoned by Minos, the King of Crete. In order to escape, Daedalus fabricated wax wings to imitate the flight of birds, with which he and Icarus flew away, never to return again...

Inspired by a John Bliven Morin poem

LYRICS

Daedalus watched the birds on high
and wished that he could also fly
but he did more than wish, bright man
he studied wings and made a plan

With Icarus, his son and heir
gathered feathers everywhere
a thousand feathers for each wing
attached with wax and sap and string

Throughout the city could be heard
“Daedalus thinks that he’s a bird”
“Come see the fool who with his son
believes that he can fly like one!”

As they passed among the jeers
were also words of praise and cheers
“If Daedalus can learn to fly
Great Zeus, then maybe so can I!”

And thus they two led the host up the highest mountain
strapped with wings to the edge, then off they leapt
as Daedalus and Icarus flew
upward soared; out of sight and away from Crete

The king called, for all the palace scribes;
“Write about Daedalus and Icarus
say that they flew close to the sun
the feathers burnt and where undone
man cannot fly it is absurd!”— Quote Source

— Orpheus

A legendary musician and poet, Orpheus had the ability to charm both the living and the dead with his music. Upon the death of his newly-wed wife, Eurydice, he played such sad and mournful songs, that even the nymphs and gods wept in compassion.

They advised Orpheus to travel to the underworld and soften the hearts of Hades and Persephone with his music. Orpheus did as he was told, and Hades agreed to allow Eurydice’s return to earth, on one condition only: Orpheus was to walk in front of her without looking back until they had both reached the Upper World.

Orpheus, forgetting that both needed to reach the Upper World first, immediately looked back upon arriving there, and Eurydice vanished once again, this time for eternity.

Inspired by a Dollie Radford poem

LYRICS

We wandered in that shadowland, my fair love, you and I
through all its strangeness hand in hand, we journeyed silently
My lyre is hanging cold and damp, mute with our triumph song
I have no voice now you are come, whom I have sought so long

But I will bring you in Love's land, into Love's highest place
and crown you there, and understand the wonder of your face
And then my joyous song shall rise to sun and moon and star
and all the worlds beyond the skies shall tell you “fair you are!”

— Helen of Troy

One of the most intriguing myths of all, is that of the most beautiful woman of the Ancient World. Her beauty was impossible to describe with words, and was tragically destined to spark the Trojan War. Helen of Troy may have been extraordinarily beautiful, but beware; there is more to her story than that which meets the eye.

Inspired by a Sara Teasdale poem

LYRICS

I am She who loves all beauty — yet I wither all it
Gods led me into this lair, forever sorrow and blood

It’s to you, Leda, my mother, and my Sire
I owe this cruel gift; the beauty, the bale
for never woman born of man and maid

Give death to me, for I have wrought such great havoc on earth
How could I leave the sound of wind, the strong sweet scent of sea
Or shut my eyes forever to the spring?

I shall live, to conquer Greece again
to make the people love, who hate me now
Mens’ lives waste with longing after me
the sum of their desire I shall be and I shall hunt
until the dusk of time

— Serenade

Edgar Alan Poe imagined and put into words the after-death experience of approaching and entering the Elysian Fields – the place that the Gods created for the Greek Heroes, those that were braver and wiser than all other mortals. A place far away from Hades where they will remain after death to live a blessed and happy life. A place where the chosen will live forever...

Inspired by an Edgar Allan Poe poem

LYRICS

So sweet the hour, so calm the time
I feel it more than half a crime
When Nature sleeps and stars are mute
To mar with silence ev’n with lute
At rest on the ocean’s brilliant dyes
An image of Elysium lies
Seven Pleiades entranced in Heaven
Form in the deep another seven
Endymion nodding from above
Sees in the sea a second love
Within the valleys dim and brown
And on the spectral mountain’s crown
And earth, and stars, and sea, and sky
Are redolent of sleep, as I
Am redolent of thee and thine
Enthralling love, my Adeline
But list, O list, so soft and low
Thy lover’s voice tonight shall flow
That, scarce awake, thy soul shall deem
My words the music of a dream
Thus, while no single sound too rude
Upon thy slumber shall intrude
Our thoughts, our souls O God above!
In every deed shall mingle, love

— Siren Song

Sirens were the Muses of the Underworld, half women, half birds, dangerous but beautiful creatures that were living at the coast of their island, and lured sailors to their demise by the sensual sweetness of their song. It is said that no man could escape their enchanting voices, and, although the Sirens represent both forbearance and the resistance of temptation, one may question whether the will is always capable of conquering or surpassing the inescapable call of desire.

Inspired by a Margaret Atwood poem

LYRICS

Shall I tell you a secret
if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?

I don't enjoy
squatting on this island
singing this trio, fatal and valuable

This is the one song
everyone would like to learn
the song that’s irresistible
the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even they see the skulls
the song nobody knows
because who has heard it’s dead!

Shall I tell you a secret
this song is a cry for help
only you can help me!

I will tell you the secret
come closer, you are unique
come closer to me…

---

Margaret Atwood, “Siren Song” from Selected Poems 1965-1975. Copyright © 1974, 1976 by Margaret Atwood