Pan’s universe in colorful tones …
The tone poem “Pan”, op. 43 by the Czech composer Vítězslav Novák, is an evocation of the mythical forest god, Pan, in five parts: Prologue, Mountains, Sea, Forest and Woman. Forces of nature are recalled musically, from overwhelming and majestic, to subtle and sensual, to serene tranquility; a masterpiece of neo-romantic style and modernist harmonies. All in great thematic unity, as the word “pan” also means.