SEAMUS

Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States

  • News
    • 2025 SEAMUS Award Winner – Mari Kimura
    • SEAMUS Journal 32 1-2 Released [January 2025]
    • 2024-2025, Winter Newsletter
  • Conferences
    • SEAMUS 2025 Conference Information
    • Past Conferences
      • SEAMUS Conference 2024 Booklet — All Events
        • Most Recent Past Conference
        • 2024 Conference Host Events, February – May.
        • SEAMUS 2024 National Conference – Call for Works
        • Conference Submission Webinars
      • 2023 Conference, April 7 – 8, NYC
    • Future Hosts Interest Form
      • How to Host a Conference
  • Opportunities
    • SEAMUS STUDENT COMPOSER COMMISSIONING PROGRAM
      • FAQ
      • SEAMUS Student Award Winners
      • Allen Strange Memorial Award
      • Allen Strange Memorial Award Winners
    • CREATE Grants
      • 2024 SEAMUS CREATE Grant Recipients
      • SEAMUS CREATE Grant Past Recipients
    • SEAMUS Award
  • SEAMUS Publications
    • Journal SEAMUS
    • Member Newsletter
  • For Members
    • Music from SEAMUS
    • 2023 Conference Video Archive
      • List of Pieces and Composers [2023 Conference, by concert]
    • Electroacoustic Miniatures Series Downloads
    • Member Directory
      • Edit Profile
    • Membership FAQs
    • Facebook Page
  • Programs and Projects
    • Mentor – Mentee Program
    • Electroacoustic Database Repertoire (project in progress)
  • About
    • History
    • Officers and Staff
      • Past Presidents
    • Why Join?
    • Inclusion and Diversity
    • Bylaws
    • Board Meeting Minutes, Archive
    • Sponsors

Penelope’s Song

2016-04-11

Penelope's Song, inspired by the Odyssey, dramatically combines electronics fashioned from recordings of wood looms with the agile power of the flute.

Composer: Judith Shatin

Year of Composition: 2013
Instrumentation: Amplified Flute and Stereo Electronics
Type of Electronics: Fixed

Number of Channels: 2
Duration: 9:00
Video Component: None

Score Resources

Penelope’s Song was inspired by Homer’s epic, the Odyssey, the story of the travails of Odysseus, who was away from home for twenty years, first at war in Troy and then, due to the sea-god Poseidon’s wrath, for ten more difficult years. It also tells of his wife, Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, waiting for him, and of the many suitors, filled with greed and arrogance, who tried to woo her so they could become king. To stave them off she devised excuses. In one, she said she would take no suitor until she finished her weaving. But, since she unraveled at night what she wove by day, she made no progress. This piece is a tribute to her, and sings of her own adventures. The electronics were created from recordings of wooden looms. I processed and shaped these, weaving a new sonic fabric. This version of Penelope’s Song was commissioned by, and is dedicated to, Lindsey Goodman. The original was composed for viola, and there are now also versions for violin, cello, clarinet, recorded by clarinetist Andrea Cheeseman; and soprano sax, recorded by Susan Fancher.

Login to SEAMUS

Join Us!

Membership in SEAMUS is open to all interested parties and brings lots of exciting benefits. Click the button below to join. Click here to renew your membership.
Join Now!

Connect with SEAMUS

  • Email
  • Facebook

© 2025 SEAMUS, All Rights Reserved · Site Design by Punkt Digital · Policy Statements

  • Contact Us
  • Board Officers & Staff
  • Policy Statements