The Golden Bird

Listen

Note from the composer

This magical Bulgarian fairytale also highlights truths about man’s path in life.

The folklore describes a king’s garden in which a magical golden apple tree bore fruit at night, but was bare in the morning. The king sent his three sons to find out what was happening with his magical tree. The youngest son discovered a golden bird was their uninvited guest. The king requested his sons to catch and bring him the bird. After the youngest son was rejected by his brothers, he took the road by himself. The son encountered an old man with mythical powers who joined on his quest for the golden bird. The journey was not smooth and the glissandos in the musical piece represent the deception of the boy. The musical theme repeats in the various registers of the harp and depicts the transition from one kingdom to another. The piece comes to an end when the first and the second musical themes unite and transform. The major key remains as the young boy keeps his life values despite the difficulties that he experiences on the way.

As in most fairy tales, the good triumphs in the end.