Maiden Stone II. Z-Rod and Doorway - Gabriel Fynsk

Описание: Gabriel Fynsk: Maiden Stone - II. Z-Rod and Doorway

Premiered in May 2021 by Contemporaneous at the National Sawdust as part of Beth Morrison Projects: Next Gen Cycle 2.

Program Note:

Maiden Stone is a vocal chamber work based on the setting and legend of the decorated ‘Maiden Stone’ in Aberdeen, Scotland; this pictic stone dates back to the 8th century AD and sits on the side of ‘Bennachie’, a large hill only 20 minutes away from where I grew up. I have been fascinated by this story and the history/artwork of the stone itself from a very young age and have attempted to piece together the meanings and narrative holes of the story through my own music and poetry. In my interpretation, I focus on the Maiden as a symbol of grieving, thus the stone and its engravings are totemic -or simply a gravestone. She (who bears no name) is emblematic not only of the hill and its nature, but of the entire Pictic culture and its decay.
In this movement, Z-Rod and Doorway, the Devil of the aforementioned legend enters to offer a trade that will take the Maiden’s life in exchange for her femininity. My work focuses on the weight and implications of this trade, one which I interpret as inherently suicidal. I hope to present this entire piece as one larger, authentic funeral.

The legend tells of a relatively wealthy ‘maiden’ who lives alone on Bennachie and bakes bannocks, a peasant dish made of grain. She is greeted by a stranger who bets that he can pave a road to the top of the hill before she can bake a bannock. After accepting the offer, the stranger returns to reveal the completed road and his identity as the Devil. When the maiden flees, the Devil chases after her and eventually grabs her shoulder, instantly turning her to stone.