Olympus

Olympus was commissioned by Gonjiam Music Festival for the festival in February 2018. The flute soloists of the premiere, and on the live recording, were : Viviana Guzman, Andrea "Fluterscooter" Fisher, and Barbara Siesel with the Gonjiam Music Festival conducted by Phillipe Bernold.

In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus was the dwelling of the Olympian Gods, but the name Olympus has musicial origins as well. Olympus is the name of two ancient Greek musicians, one mythical belongs to the mythical genealogy of Mysian and Phrygian flute-players, and one real who lived in the 7th century BC and perhaps belonged to a family of native musicians said to be descended from the first Olympus.

The 2018 Winter Olympics will be hosted by South Korea, and the theme of the 2018 Gonjiam Music Festival is Olympus. It seemed only fitting to create an original composition reflecting the theme which features the flutists' strength, flexibity, artistry, and athleticism in a race of a piece.