Sdraulig's Icarus, for solo piccolo and orchestra
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13m
Harry Sdraulig’s Icarus was written in 2019 for Lloyd Hudson and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. In this work, Sdraulig draws inspiration from the ancient Greek myth of the boy who flew too close to the sun. Using the full colour and power of the orchestra, and the unique tone colours of the piccolo, he explores the excitement of flight, the thrill of ambition, and the sudden danger that follows. The music begins with a sense of anticipation. Shimmering textures and rising lines suggest wings lifting into the air. As the work builds, the texture grows brighter and more intense, capturing Icarus’s bold ascent higher and higher. There is energy and momentum in the rhythms, giving the feeling of
unstoppable movement.
But as the sun’s heat becomes too much, the music shifts. Harmonies darken and the texture becomes more fragile. A dramatic climax marks the turning point, followed by a falling motion that suggests Icarus’s tragic descent. The work is both vivid and emotional – a story of courage, risk and consequence told entirely through sound.
Recorded live on Thursday 12 March 2026, 6pm
PROGRAM
Sdraulig Icarus, for solo piccolo and orchestra
MUSICIANS
Eivind Aadland Conductor
Lloyd Hudson Flute
Federation Concert Hall, Nipaluna / Hobart
TAGS
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, orchestra, TSO, Hobart, Tasmania
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