Leander and Hero

Leander and Hero takes as its point of departure the story of Leander and Hero’s tragic love. But in my version, Leander and Hero are cliffbirds who mate for life. Hero sits on eggs in the nest on the rocks while Leander fishes for food. Leander is killed in a violent storm at sea and does not return. Hero waits for him but when he does not come she leaves her nest to go look for him. She finds his body washed up by the waves. Like all birds who mate for life, she sits by his body, unwilling to leave his side even in death.

– Hannah Lash

Movements

I Prelude: The Cliffs
II Courting Dance: Slow and Ancient
III Flocking
IV First Storm
V Hero and Leander
VI Interlude: away from the rocks
VII The Storm; Leander Does Not Return to the Nest
VIII Hero Finds Leander's Body and Will Not Leave His Side
IX Postlude: The Cliffs