Perseus Returns Concert Band - Sheet Music

SKU: PR.49500144F

ISBN 9781491133514. UPC: 680160694228.

Join the Greek hero Perseus as he completes his impossible quest to behead a monstress and save his mother in this march for grade 3 concert band. Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, was raised as a hero to protect his mother from King Polydectes. To be rid of Perseus, Polydectes sent him on an impossible quest to bring back the head of Medusa, the mortal Gorgon who could turn people to stone with her gaze. Taking pity on him, the gods gifted Perseus winged sandals to fly, a helmet of invisibility, and a bronze shield. He found Medusa in her cave and, using the shield as a mirror to avoid her deadly gaze, cut off her head. Perseus then escaped Medusa's vengeful sisters, donning the helmet of invisibility and winged sandals. As Perseus flew home, drops of Medusa's blood fell to the earth creating the coral in the red sea and the many-colored snakes in Libya. When Perseus returned, he used Medusa's head to turn Polydectes to stone and free his mother from her imprisonment. He then presented the head to his divine protector Athena, who placed it in the center of her shield.
Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae, daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. The kingPolydectes laid eyes on Danae and proclaimed then that she would be his bride. Unbeknownstto him, Perseus received an education suitable for a hero from the best teacher available,Chiron the Centaur. As he grew up, Perseus believed Polydectes was less than honorable, andprotected his mother from him. Polydectes sent Perseus on an impossible quest anddemanded the head of the only mortal Gorgon, Medusa, whose gaze turned people to stone.From the Hesperides Perseus received a bag to safely contain Medusa’s head. Zeus gave himan adamantine sword and Hades’ helm of darkness to make him invisible. Hermes lentPerseus winged sandals to fly, and Athena gave him a polished shield. Perseus thenproceeded to the Gorgons’ cave.Equipped with the magic items, he attached to his feet the winged sandals and flew to theland of the Gorgons, whom he found fast asleep in a cave. Then, guided by Athena, he cut offthe head of the Medusa, which he placed in his bag. As soon as had he done that, fromMedusa’s headless body there sprang forth the winged horse Pegasus, who flew up into thesky. He now hurried to escape the pursuit of the two surviving sisters, who, awoken fromtheir sleep, eagerly rushed to avenge the death of their sister. His invisible helmet and wingedsandals here came in handy; for the former concealed him from the view of the Gorgons, whilethe latter carried him swiftly over land and sea, far beyond the reach of pursuit. In passingover the burning plains of Libya the drops of blood from the head of the Medusa oozed throughthe bag and falling on the hot sands below produced many-colored snakes, which spread allover the country. Droplets of blood that landed in the Red Sea created coral reefs underwater.His winged sandals carried him over deserts and mountains, until he arrived at Ethiopia, thekingdom of King Cepheus. Here he found the country filled with disastrous floods, towns andvillages destroyed, and everywhere signs of devastation and ruin. On a projecting cliff closeto the shore, he noticed a lovely maiden chained to a rock. This was Andromeda, the king’sdaughter. Her mother Cassiopeia, having boasted that her beauty surpassed that of theNereides, caused the angry sea-nymphs to appeal to Poseidon to retaliate, and thus the seagoddevastated the country with terrible waves, which brought with it a huge monster whoconsumed all that came in his way. On being informed of this tragic scene, Perseus proposedto Cepheus to kill the monster, on condition that the lovely victim should become his bride.Overjoyed at the possibility of Andromeda’s release, the king gladly accepted. Then puttingon once more the helmet of Hades, he jumped into the air and waited for the approach of themonster.The sea opened, and the head of the gigantic beast raised itself above the waves. He leapedforward to bite his victim; but the courageous hero suddenly darted down and bringing outthe head of the Medusa from his bag held it before the eyes of the dragon, whose hideous bodybecame gradually transformed into a huge black rock. Perseus then unchained Andromedaand led her to her parents, who ordered immediate preparations to be made for the marriagefeast.Perseus then left the Ethiopian king, and returned to Seriphus, where he gave KingPolydectes the “gift” he requested. When he did not find his mother in his court, Perseuspulled out Medusa’s head from the bag. Polydectes revealed that he locked her in a dungeon,just before his mouth and whole head turned to stone. Perseus presented the head of theMedusa to his divine protector Athena, who placed it in the center of her shield.Adapted from The Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece.