Bacchus and Ariadne

Composer Notes... A Tone Poem for carillon inspired by the painting of the same name by Titian (Tiziano Vecellio c.1488-1576) in the National Galley, London, England.
Ariadne wanders disconsolately on the island of Naxos, where she has been abandoned by her lover Theseus. On the same island a wild party is in progress given by Bacchus for his entourage of satyrs and maenads. Bacchus and Ariadne meet and fall in love at first sight. In the painting Bacchus is shown leaping from his chariot, drawn by two cheetahs. And in the sky above Ariadne a crown of stars appears. This represents the gift of immortality given to Ariadne by her new lover.
This work was commissioned by the Springfield Park District (Springfield, Illinois) and dedicated to Karel Keldermans in November 2002.