The Swan

Tundra Swan

I've been waiting eagerly for this one...Seven Swans A-Swimming.

Gift Tally - Day 7

Partridges - 7

Pear Trees - 7

Turtle Doves - 12

French Hens - 15

Colly (Black) Birds - 16

Ring-necked Pheasant - 15

Geese (Laying) - 12

Swans (Swimming) - 7

Sacred to the Greek God Apollo (and Aphrodite, as well as a few other deities from other pantheons, I'm sure), the swan has been the inspiration for artists in many genres, across thousands of years, and remains so today.  It is no wonder that the creature sacred to the God of Music and Patron of the Muses would be such a...well...muse to painters, composers, choreographers, poets, etc. 

From themystica.com:

     When Apollo entered the world, sacred swans circled the island seven times for it was the seventh day of the month. At once Zeus lavished many gifts upon his son including a golden miter, a chariot drawn by swans, and a lyre since legend has it at birth Apollo said, "Dear to me shall be the lyre and bow, and in oracles I shall reveal to men the inexorable will of Zeus." The god commanded his son to find sanctuary at Delphi. But before taking Apollo to Delphi, the swans flew him north to their own country on the edge of the ocean, which was home to the Hyperborean people, who was a supremely happy race for whom life was sweet.

I wonder if the original writers of the song knew the legend about the swans circling the island seven times, on the seventh day of the month, or if that's just a coincidence (or maybe Apollo's influence on the writer, so long ago). At any rate, it's a nice synchronicity.

Apollo and the Nine Muses, Gustave Moreau, 1856

This is one of my favorite paintings of Apollo and the Muses.  I could go on and on about Apollo, as He is one of my Patrons, but let's get back to the swan.

Without question, when someone says the word "ballet," chances are that most people (whether they know it or not) conjure an image from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.  Swan Lake is full of magic - an evil sorcerer's curse, a magical lake composed of a mother's tears, shapeshifting - in addition to the enchanting score and (hopefully) brilliant dancing.  With the advent of the recently released film Black Swan, this classic is once again in the forefront of pop culture; however, this ballet is usually included in the repertoires of most well-known ballet companies and is an audience favorite.

This variation is from Act III of Swan Lake, and introduces the Black Swan, Odile, to the story.  The only thing you need to know is that the Prince has fallen in love earlier in the ballet with Odette, not Odile. It gets confusing. Wikipedia explains it better than I could:

The Prince returns to the castle to attend the ball. Von Rothbart arrives in disguise with his own daughter Odile. He has made Odile identical to Odette in all respects except that she wears black rather than white. The prince mistakes her for Odette, dances with her, and proclaims to the court that he intends to make her his wife. Only a moment too late, Siegfried sees the real Odette and realizes his mistake. (The method in which Odette appears varies. In some versions she arrives at the castle, while in other versions von Rothbart shows Siegfried a magical vision of her.)

One of my favorite productions of Swan Lake was the Matthew Bourne production, which was around in the early Nineties.  It featured all-male swans, portraying the more aggressive side of swans (they can sometimes be pretty frightening and brutal to each other) as well as the powerful grace.  It was absolutely mesmerizing to see the ballet interpreted in this manner.  This occurs in Act I, when the Prince first meets the White Swan.

And with those bits of beauty, I will conclude; but not before wishing all of you a blessed, peaceful, and prosperous New Year...may it be better than the last.