"Nereides", Orphic Suite - Book I (Brian Whitten)
Channel: Ambrosia & Nepenthe
Date: 2021-11-12

Originally composed as a series of piano preludes paired with underwater photos by Engin Akyurt. The first part, "Book I",  of a larger suite for solo piano.

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Each piece also captures some of the qualities represented by one of the Nereids - nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea, and the daughters of Nereus and Doris.

00:00 Prelude #1 "Glauke"
02:41 Prelude #2 "Thaleia"
05:04 Prelude #3 "Speio"
07:38 Prelude #4 "Doto"
09:50 Prelude #5 "Halimede"
12:36 Prelude #6 "Amatheia"
14:53 Prelude #7 "Nesaie"
17:16 Prelude #8 "Kymodoke"
19:22 Prelude #9 "Psamathe"
22:12 Prelude #10 "Kymothoe"
24:57 Prelude #11 "Melite"
26:51 Prelude #12 "Panopeia"

"The goddesses gathered about her [Thetis], all who along the depth of the sea were Nereides (daughters of Nereus). For Glauke was there, Kymodoke and Thaleia (Bloom), Nesaie and Speio ...; Kymothoe was there, ... Melite .., Doto, ... Panopeia ... and lovely-haired Amatheia, and the rest who along the depth of the sea were Nereides. The silvery cave was filled with these." - Homer, Iliad.

"To Nereus and to Doris ... there were born in the barren sea daughters greatly beautiful even among goddesses: ... graceful Melite, ... Kymodoke who, with Kymatolege and Amphitrite, light of foot, on the misty face of the open water easily stills the waves and hushes the winds in their blowing. ... Halimede of the bright garland..., Psamathe of the graceful form ..." - Hesiod, Theogony.

"Lightly skims the dark-blue chariot [of Poseidon] over the sea's face: . . . then come his retainers ... on the left are Thetis and Melite and maiden Panopeia, Nesaie, too, and Speio, Thaleia and Kymodoke." - Virgil, Aeneid.

"Into the great deep Thetis plunged, and all the Nereides with her. Round them swam sea-monsters many, children of the brine. Against the wise Prometheus bitter-wroth the sea-maids [Nereides] were, remembering how that Zeus, moved by his prophecies, unto Peleus gave Thetis to wife, a most unwilling bride. Then cried in wrath to these [the Nereid] Kymothoe (Cymothoe) : ‘O that the pestilent prophet [Prometheus] had endured all pangs he merited, when, deep-burrowing, the Eagle tare his liver aye renewed!’" - Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy.

With thanks to the Theoi Project for details and quotes on the Nereids: https://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Nereides.html