I.  Icarus

King Minos locked Icarus and his father, Daedalus, in the tower.  While imprisoned, Icarus learned the language of birds, their only visitors.  In order to escape, Daedalus asked Icarus to gather some bird feathers and wax to make wings.  He cautioned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun because the wax would melt.  Icarus loved flying and ignored the advice.  He fell into the sea and drowned.

II. Medusa

Medusa was a virgin priestess in the temple of Athena.  Poseidon, the sea god, seduced Medusa.   Even though Medusa was taken by force, Athena was enraged and transformed Medusa’s hair into a coil of snakes and turned her into a monster whose gaze could turn a man to stone.  The great hero and son of Zeus, Perseus, beheaded Medusa.  Pegasus, the winged horse, sprang from her blood.  Perseus and Pegasus galloped off together.  

III. Orpheus

Orpheus was a gifted musician whose music charmed all living things:  people, animals, plants. His music even entranced stones.  He was in love with his wife, Euridice, who was bitten by a snake and died.  Heartbroken, Orpheus followed her to the Underworld.  Hades decreed that Orpheus could bring Euridice back to the Upperworld but only if he did not look at her until they saw the sun.  Orpheus did not hear her steps and looked back at her.  She was thereupon lost forever.  Afterwards, Orpheus could only sing sad songs.

IV. Prometheus

Zeus created all life on earth.  Although Zeus gave gifts such as flight and fur to animals he gave nothing to humankind.  Prometheus quarrelled with Zeus over this unfair treatment of humanity.  He stole fire from the gods and gave it to human beings.  Zeus was very angry since people now had their own power.  He chained Prometheus to a rock.  Each day an eagle ate his liver.  His liver re-grew every night and the eagle returned each day to perpetually torment Prometheus.

V.  Pandora

Hephaestus, the craftsman god, created Pandora out of clay.  She was the first mortal woman.  Hera, Zeus’s wife, gave her the gift of curiosity.  She also gave Pandora a box which she said must never be opened.  Pandora’s curiosity got the better of her and she peeked into the box.  Out came all the evils of the world.  Devastated, Pandora asked, “What have I done?”  Only a tiny nightingale remained in the box.  The little bird sang, “Don’t cry.  I am hope.”

Mythos Suite for Solo Tuba

“Dawn Chorus” was inspired by birds singing and waking up the composer at four o’clock in the morning.  Despite the general cacophony, some lovely melodies resounded in the morning breeze;  nevertheless, the composer would have preferred to get some sleep.

Dawn Chorus for String Quartet

Arrangement of Long Live Free Ukraine by Lynn Blake John for euphonium and tuba.  Published by Cimarron Music Press in order to raise funds for Ukraine during the war.

Long Live Free Ukraine

Sometimes being lost means that we don’t know where we are or how to get to our destination.  Sometimes, though, being lost is a loss of purpose or identity.   We may have arrived at a crossroads in our lives and we’re unsure of which path to take. We may feel a sense of directionless panic when we don’t know where our lives are headed.  We don’t feel safe; we feel scared and alone.
Perhaps we cannot find ourselves until we lose ourselves.

Lost for oboe/bassoon quartet

This work honours the courage, resilience and determination of all oppressed people who stand up to dictators, tyrants and aggressors.  Their sacrifices are not in vain.

Defiance (quartet for oboes and bassoons)

Scottish-style duet for euphonium and tuba.

Scotland (duet for euphonium/tuba)

“Life is like music notes on a page: ups and downs with a beginning, end and dancing in-between.”
― Richie Norton


“Dancing Spirits” was composed to convey the joy, beauty, mystery and vitality of music.  The spirits are called by a single instrument whose energy is so profound that it compels us to dance and express the life force within us.

Dancing Spirits Solo Oboe Suite 08 - 11 - 2022

Nervous from the opera, "FeatherEx"

I Miss You Every Day from the opera, "FeatherEx"

The little buffalo ignored the big, shaggy, grunting, foraging herd and galloped across the prairie.

Little Buffalo Brass Duo

Don't Be Afraid from the opera, "FeatherEx"

Birdsong

“Dancing on Air” was inspired by birds swooping and swirling across the sky.  They seem to dance effortlessly across the heavens.

Dancing On Air

Whales sing but other than the clicks made by dolphins and other toothed whales, whale noises remain mysterious.  It may be that whales use “echolocation” to identify potential prey and threats, or to find a mate.   Researchers believe that whale sounds can travel more than 10,000 miles in some levels of the ocean.

Although we don’t know exactly why or how they communicate, it’s fun to imagine their lives and what they might say to each other.

“Whale Songs” has five movements:

I.	Calling the Pod
II.	Cruising
III.	Feeding Time
IV.	The Orca
V.	Where Are You, My Love?

Whale Songs won honorable mention in the tuba category in the 2020 Leonard Falcone "Call for Solo Works."

Whale Songs (for solo tuba)

Electricity for Clarinet and Piano

Lost And Found

Masks are worn to keep us safe from harm but they also hide our identity.    Who is really behind the mask?

This trio was selected by the Osmose Intermezzo 2020 competition (Brussels).

Masks for Cello Trio

Social distancing during the global pandemic was an attempt to minimize the probability of catching the infectious disease.   However, the physical separation meant that most people were no longer connected with their family, friends, workplace and society.  People became very fearful of others while at the same time needing contact and communication.

Social Distancing (for euphonium/tuba quartet)

Get ready for some big changes in your life

Sea Change (for wind band)

“Requiem” is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the global pandemic in the twenty-first century.

Requiem for String Quartet

This piece was inspired by the COVID-19 global pandemic.  Most of us have experienced isolation and social distancing as as a strange discontinuity in our normal lives.   Although we try to get on with things, the virus is always lurking in the background.

Lynn Blake John

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