Roman Festivals

Roman Festivals
Composed by Roger C. Vogel
For flute choir
Published by Brixton Publications
Duration: ca. 12'40″
Includes score and parts

Instrumentation:
Flute/Piccolo
3 C Flutes
Alto Flute in G
Bass Flute
Contrabass Flute (Optional)

Contents:
1. Plebian Games
2. Fors Fortunia
3. Eleusinian Mysteries
4. Bacchanalia
5. Saturnalia

Program Notes:
      Roman Festivals was written in 2016 for the Athens Flute Choir, Cathy Hancock Hicks, and Lisa Bartholow, directors.
      Roman Festivals portrays the celebratory atmosphere of holidays and festivals long ago. The Plebeian Games included theatrical performances as well as athletic contests to entertain the common people of Rome. Fors Fortuna celebrated the goddess of prosperity, good luck, and divine blessings. It was a festival of much mirth and joy. The Eleusinian Mysteries were rites held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in Greece, and it celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The cult was also widespread in Rome. The Bacchanalia was a festival in honor of the god Bacchus, the god of wine, freedom, intoxication, and ecstasy. Saturnalia was a Roman holiday of merry making for all that included feasting, goodwill, generosity to the poor, and the exchange of gifts.