In Apollonian Riffs: A Musical Odyssey, the “riffing” element comes from two sources: each of the four movements extemporizes, or “riffs,” on a different theme from Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, and each uses repeating rhythmic patterns—like the guitar riffs in other musical styles—that underpin and unify the musical structure. The "Apollonian" part also has two sources: Apollo is both a Greek god of music and the god of war. And that is where both The Odyssey and Apollonian Riffs start—with the end of the Trojan War.

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Triumph at Troy: Odysseus, Wily Warrior. Odysseus has led the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War thanks to his courage and his cunning. His use of the Trojan Horse to fool the Trojans into letting the Greek legions into the city is the best-known of his many successful military strategies.

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Intrigue on Ithaca: Penelope Perseveres. As Odysseus’s wife Penelope waits at home for her husband to get back from the war, many unwanted guests have arrived on Ithaca and are scheming among themselves in hopes of marrying her. They assume that Odysseus is dead, but Penelope keeps the faith. Just as cunning as her husband, every evening Penelope weaves a shroud for her father-in-law, only to secretly unravel it. She starts over each day, telling the suitors that she will choose one of them only when the shroud is finished.

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Storms at Sea: The Wrath of Poseidon. It wouldn’t have taken 20 years for Odysseus to get home if it hadn’t been for Poseidon, Greek god of the seas. Poseidon had become very angry with Odysseus after Odysseus, to prevent himself and his men from being eaten by a giant cyclops, blinds the cyclops and escapes. The problem was that the cyclops in question, unbeknownst to Odysseus, was Poseidon’s son.

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Phaeacian Festival: Tribute to Athena. Just as his protector, the goddess Athena, had prophesied, Odysseus is welcomed into the palace of the Phaeacian king, even though he has washed ashore destitute, a shipwrecked stranger. The king, without knowing of Odysseus’s noble status, treats his guest to a sumptuous banquet. Athena boosts Odysseus’s confidence, telling him, “be bold, for the bold come off best.” I too have found encouragement in these words. ​

Image: "Penelope and the Suitors" by John William Waterhouse / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain