Text and music Bernard de Vienne

Awaiting creation

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Background to the fable

In Greek mythology, Pandora (in ancient Greek Πανδώρα / Pandṓra "the present of all") is the first woman. It is associated with the legend of "Pandora's box" (in fact, a jar). She is sometimes called Anésidora, "the one who brings gifts out of the depths", in fact "the Goddess of the earth who presides over fertility". The polytheistic mentality sees Pandora as the one who gave man the opportunity to improve himself in trials and adversity (what monotheists call evils). It also gave him the strength to face these trials with hope. In pagan philosophy, Pandora is, at the same time, the source of evils, of strength, of dignity and of beauty, since the human being cannot improve without adversity.

Summary of the story

Before dying, Pandora, Gabriel's aunt, a young child (the sex is not specified, he will always be called the child) offers him, supposedly without his parents, a large and superb marquetry music box containing five other music boxes. Pandora loves this child because he is as whimsical as he is introverted…a bit like her. He is too often rejected by his comrades because he is withdrawn. This situation makes him suffer and he takes refuge in the practice of the violin which he learns. The child is supposed not to open this box before one year, but of course, his curiosity makes him disobey. If his aunt gave him such a gift, it's not for nothing. The child hopes to be liked by other children and she wants to contribute to this. As soon as he opens it, music is heard, and as in a dream, he thinks he sees his aunt making this box and smiling at him. During the following months, despite the prohibition to do so, the child opens the other boxes. Each time a kind of fog makes him travel to a new place and a different music is heard. The tutelary presence of his aunt accompanies him in these more or less disturbing experiences, which the child experiences as real. The last trip brings him back to reality, but transformed : from an introvert, he finally accepts himself as he is, and his relationship to others and to himself has changed. He realizes that he has within himself the capacity to change himself and to change things around him. At the end of the story, he is no longer a child. This Pandora's Box, by freeing him from his ailments and his fears, gave him the ability to accept himself as he is and to finally be accepted by others.

Destination of the work

Apart from the solo violin whose writing presents real difficulties, the instrumental training is adapted to the instruments most commonly taught in a conservatory. The instrumental level of this composition is within the reach of great students who can replace the teachers in part or in whole. However, it is a true concert work that could be performed without the text. In this case, the chef will have to make some adaptations and cuts (breakpoints). It is very well written and requires demanding detail work as with any work.

In addition to school concerts, this fable aimed at all ages can be given in concert for all audiences.