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The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

for Orchestra & Narrator

Gustav Hoyer’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner delivers a gripping fusion of spoken word and orchestral drama. This bold program offers a powerful narrative piece complete with performance-ready stage projections that will captivate audiences. The seven-part work transforms Coleridge’s iconic poem into a thrilling concert experience, blending vivid narration with cinematic orchestration for an intense, and emotionally immersive experience.

Runtime

35 minutes

Perusal Score

A full perusal score is available upon request. Contact us to receive a copy.

Premiere

Premiered September 9, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA with Bryce Lenon narrating with the Orchestra Unleashed conducted by Gustav Hoyer

Orchestration

Piccolo, 2 Flutes, Oboe, Oboe/Eng. Horn, Clarinet in Bb, Clarinet in Bb/Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons

4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in C, 3 Tenor Trombones, Tuba

Timpani
Percussion 1: Snare Drum A, Castanets, Tom Toms
Percussion 2: Chimes, Xylophone, Tam-tam, Crotales
Percussion 3: Glockenspiel, Claves, Snare Drum B, Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal

Harp
Strings
Narrator

Recordings

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER
Navona Records (NV6590), February 2, 2024

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner takes the famous poem first created by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798 and clothes it with the drapery of orchestral luxury. This composition was conceived as a sort of concerto for narrator and orchestra. The epic and fantastical verse telling of a star-crossed mariner is echoed and supported by an orchestral underpinning of leitmotivs and timbral washes.

In seven parts, like the poem itself, the music begins with a prelude of woe-tossed ocean rolling across a measureless expanse. The narrator takes the stage to tell of a haggard mariner’s mysterious appearance at a wedding. Of all the guests, one arrests the Mariner’s attention. He grabs the guest, and enchants him with a tale of arrogance, grief, loneliness, humility, repentance, and redemption. In verse, the mariner leads the guest through his journeys to Antarctica, his encounter with an albatross, his thoughtless disregard for this special omen of favor, and into the hell of consequence. The mariner’s words tell of adventure on the high sea and encounters with the mysterious spirits that dwell there whose vengeance and blessing he survives. The story ends as it begins, with the Mariner turning away from the stunned guest, now transformed in spirit, and continuing his commission of penance to tell this story to the next soul who must hear it. The orchestra is the chorus of natural and supernatural encounters laid beneath the plaintive spoken word of the narrator.

Watch & Listen

An Immersive Experience

Narration, Cinematic Orchestration, Captivating Imagery

Bring the story to life with performance-ready stage projections, included with purchase. Preview all 7 parts.

PART I: At first, the crew is angry that the bird was killed. Later, they approve when the weather improves. But soon the wind stops, and the ship is stuck. The crew suffers. They blame the Mariner again and hang the albatross around his neck.

PART II: At first, the crew is angry that the bird was killed. Later, they approve when the weather improves. But soon the wind stops, and the ship is stuck. The crew suffers. They blame the Mariner again and hang the albatross around his neck.

PART III: A strange ship approaches. On board are Death and Life-in-Death. They gamble for the souls of the sailors. Life-in-Death wins the Mariner. The rest of the crew dies. The Mariner is left alone, surrounded by corpses.

PART IV: Alone on the ship, the Mariner is unable to pray. He watches the dead men and suffers deeply. One night, he sees the sea creatures and feels a sudden change in his heart. He blesses them instinctively, and the curse begins to lift.

PART V: Rain falls. The Mariner sleeps. Spirits move through the bodies of the dead and steer the ship. He hears voices in the air. They say his suffering is not over, but he is no longer cursed as before.

PART VI: The ship continues moving and reaches home waters. A boat with a Hermit, a Pilot, and a boy comes to greet it. As they approach, the ship sinks. The Mariner is rescued, and feels a compulsion to share his story with the world.

PART VII: The Hermit listens to the Mariner’s confession, and explains that he is now doomed to tell his tale for eternity. The curse of his crime demands that he wander forever, teaching others what he has learned: to love all of God’s creatures, great and small.

Gustav Hoyer

Composer

Gustav Hoyer was born in Denver CO in 1972. His musical pursuits began in high school following a life-changing encounter with the music of Beethoven and Mozart. He subsequently studied music theory, piano, and violin and pursued collegiate degrees in composition. He has written music for a wide variety of ensembles, media, and settings. His recorded music has been heard in film, on radio, and in performance around the world. He continues to create new orchestral music that draws on the tools of classical vocabulary while fully modern in their contemplations.

Rich in musical narrative, his works have been described as evocative, accessible, and powerfully emotional. He was the Artistic Director for Los Angeles-based Orchestra Unleashed, Artistic Director of contemporary classical ensemble NoCo Artists, and now serves as the Associate Director of the Loveland Opera Theatre. As a conductor he has performed over 20 new compositions by composers from around the world. He continues to record and release new works with recent album releases Witness (2018), The Gilded Age (2020), The Mental Cartographer (2021), A Winter Journal (2023), and Conversations (2023).

For more information visit gustavhoyer.com.

Put on a Performance

Purchase a digital copy of the orchestral score and parts. PDF files will be instantly delivered to the email address supplied at checkout. You will also receive access to a collection of performance-ready stage projection video files (MP4) for use during your performance.

Terms of Use

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) apply to the purchase and public performance of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (“Work”) composed by Gustav Hoyer and licensed by Hoyer Media (“Licensor”). By making this purchase, you (“Licensee”) hereby acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth herein.

1. Grant of License
1.1. Upon purchasing the musical scores and parts of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the Licensee is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free worldwide license to use the Work for one public performance. 1.2. Each purchase entitles the Licensee to one public performance of the Work. For each additional performance, a separate purchase is required. 1.3. The term of the license is four (4) years from the date of purchase.

2. Use of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Supplements
2.1. The following supplements are provided for use during the performance: a) Videos 2.2. Provided visual supplements may only be used as on-stage projections, defined as a presentation on a projection screen located on the stage at the performance, which is located behind or above the Performing Artist. 2.3 Supplements may not be edited or changed in any way without prior written consent of the Licensor. 2.4 Any other use of the supplements, or incorporation of supplements in live performance not provided by the Licensor without the express written permission from the Licensor, is strictly prohibited.

3. Performance Reporting
3.1. Any public performance of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” utilizing the purchased sheet music must be reported to the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

4. Restrictions
4.1. The Licensee shall not claim authorship of the Work in any way, directly or by implication, or collaboration credit in any form. 4.2. The Licensee may not transfer, rent, sub-lease, assign, or otherwise deal in the License. 4.3. The Licensee shall not copy or duplicate the Work for any purpose other than those expressly provided. 4.4. The Licensee shall not resell, trade, or exploit the Work for profit or otherwise, whether as part of a production or as a stand-alone item. 4.5. The Licensee shall not allow any third party to use the Work in any way. 4.6. The Licensee shall not make any changes to the Work.

5. Intellectual Property Rights
5.1. The Licensor retains all intellectual property rights in the Work and components thereof. 5.2. The Licensee acknowledges that all rights in the Supplements not specifically granted are reserved to the Licensor.

6. Indemnity
6.1. The Licensee agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Licensor, its parent and affiliated companies, and the respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, and users of each of the foregoing from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, losses, damages, judgments, and reasonable outside attorneys’ fees arising out of or resulting from any breach of any representations, warranties, obligations, or agreements hereunder.

7. Termination
7.1. This License may be terminated if: a) The Licensee breaches any provision of these Terms, and the breach is not rectified within thirty (30) days after notice in writing. b) The Licensor reserves the right to terminate the license if the Licensee is adjudged insolvent or bankrupt.

$750

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