Music From Riverside     Lucretius

Titus Lucretius Carus was a Roman poet and philosopher who lived in the first century BC (c. 99 BC - 55 BC).

His only known work is the didactic poem, De Rerum Natura which is usually rendered in English as The Nature of Things which is 7400 lines long, divided into 6 books.
The Nature of Things is an exposition on the philosophy of Epicurus who was a Greek philosopher who lived from 341 to 270 BC. Each of these four songs express one of the ideas from the philosophy of Epicurus.
These songs have been translated into English, and poetically set by the poet A.E. Stallings.


Four Lucretius Songs for SATB Chorus and Piano


Each of the four songs is available separately:
(Sound examples are electronic only)

play    As You Commence Philosopy for SATB Chorus, Tenor and Soprano solos, and Piano

Epicurus was opposed to superstition and the impact religious beliefs have on people's lives. In this song, Lucretius tells of the sacrifice of Iphigenia by her father.

 play    It is Vital for SATB Chorus and Piano

Epicurus believed that all things were made up of atoms, and it is just their order and number that made the different things that we observe.


play        Sun and Moon for SATB Chorus and Piano
There are many worlds - this is not the only one, and nature is not controlled by any gods. Nature is free, and is able to do everything herself.

play       Time Changes the Nature of the Whole World for SATB Chorus and Piano

Everything changes. There is no thing that does not change. All things begin and end and the earth as been changing also.