homeric hymns visual album credits

Created by Four Larks

Adapted from ancient poems historically attributed to Homer, created with inspiration from modern translations including those by Hugh Evelyn-White, Peter McDonald, Gregory Nagy, Diane Rayor, & Sarah Ruden

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hymn to dionysus (born of semele)

Hymnist (Semele / Dionysus) – Sharon Chohi Kim

Chorus – Max Baumgarten, Hyosun Choi, Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth, Jett Kwong Kelly, Kasper, Joanna Lynn-Jacobs, Malachi Middleton , Lukas Papenfusscline, Rosanna Tavarez , James Vitz-Wong

Written by Mat Sweeney, Music by Ellen Warkentine & Mat Sweeney, Lyrics* by Jesse Rasmussen, Staged and Directed by Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro , with Choreography by Hyosun Choi

Film Directed by Christin Turner, Cinematography by Loreto Di Cesare

Costume by Lena Sands, Makeup and Hair by Pamela Bjorklund , Properties Designed and Constructed by Sebastian Peters-Lazaro

Music: Soloists and Additional Vocal Arrangements – Sharon Chohi Kim & Lukas Papenfusscline, Chorus – Kasper, Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth, Jett Kwong Kelly, Joanna Lynn-Jacobs, Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, Mat Sweeney, James Vitz-Wong, Percussion Performed and Arranged by James Waterman, Flutes/Piccolo Performed and Arranged by Lu Coy , Guitar and Electric Bass Performed and Arranged by Matt Orenstein, D Violone Performed and Arranged by James Vitz-Wong, Greek Recitation by Sharon Chohi Kim


hymn to gaia

Hymnists – Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth, Kasper, Joanna Lynn-Jacobs 

Chorus – Hyosun Choi,Lu Coy  (flute), Malachi Middleton , James Vitz-Wong (bass), James Waterman (marimba)

Written by Mat Sweeney, Music by Ellen Warkentine & Mat Sweeney, Lyrics* by Jesse Rasmussen, Staged and Directed by Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, with additional movement improvisations by Hyosun Choi and Malachi Middleton 

Film Directed by Christin TurnerCinematography by Loreto Di Cesare Elijah Garcia

Costume by Lena SandsMakeup and Hair by Pamela Bjorklund Properties Designed and Constructed by Sebastian Peters-Lazaro

Music: Vocals – KasperYvette Cornelia Holzwarth (Greek recitation), & Joanna Lynn-Jacobswith additional vocals by Lu Coy & James Vitz-WongPercussion/Marimba Performed and Arranged by James WatermanFlutes Performed and Arranged by Lu CoyGuitar Performed and Arranged by Matt OrensteinBass Performed and Arranged by James Vitz-WongGreek Recitation by Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth


hymn to demeter

Hymnist (Persphone) – Jett Kwong Kelly 

Dancer (Demeter) – Rosanna Tavarez 

Chorus – Hyosun Choi (cello), Lu Coy (flute), Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth (violin), Kasper (violin)Sharon Chohi KimMalachi Middleton Theodosia Roussos (english horn), James Vitz-Wong (bass)

Written & Composed by Mat Sweeney, Lyrics* Written with Jesse Rasmussen, Staged and Directed by Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, with Select Choreography by Hyosun Choi and Movement Improvisations by Roseanna Tavarez

Film Directed by Christin TurnerCinematography by Loreto Di Cesare

Costume by Lena SandsMakeup and Hair by Pamela Bjorklund Properties and Harvest Headpeices Designed and Constructed by Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, Headpieces for Demeter & Persephone Designed and Constructed by Katherine M. Clark

Music: Vocals by Jett Kwong KellyAdditional Vocals by Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth, Kasper, Sharon Chohi Kim, Matt Orenstein, Lukas Papenfusscline, Theodosia Roussos, James Vitz-WongGuzheng Performed and Arranged by Jett Kwong KellyViolins and Violas Performed and Arranged by Yvette Cornelia HolzwarthBass, Programming, and Additional String Arrangements by Matt OrensteinCello by Prudence Rees-LeePercussion Performed and Arranged by James WatermanPreliminary String Arrangements Developed with Danny Echevarria Prudence Rees-LeeGreek Recitation by Theodosia Roussos

Harvest Sequence Orchestrated by Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth, and played by Lu Coy (Flute), Theodosia Roussos (English Horn), Matt Orenstein (Bass), and Prudence Rees-Lee (Cello)


hymn to helios

Dancer (Helios) – Malachi Middleton  

Hymnists – Mat Sweeney & Lisa Salvo (vocals), James Waterman (vibraphone)

Written by Mat Sweeney, Music by Ellen Warkentine & Mat Sweeney, Lyrics* by Jesse Rasmussen, Staged and Directed by Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, with Movement Improvisations by Malachi Middleton  in consultation with Hyosun Choi

Film Directed by Christin TurnerCinematography by Loreto Di Cesare

Costume by Lena SandsMakeup and Hair by Pamela Bjorklund Properties Designed and Constructed by Sebastian Peters-LazaroWheel Fabricated and Designed with Alan Tollefson

Music: Vocals by Mat Sweeney & Lisa SalvoVibraphones Performed by James WatermanClarinets Performed and Arranged by Ellen WarkentineAdditional Percussion Performed and Arranged by James WatermanBass Performed and Arranged by Matt OrensteinGuitar Performed and Arranged by Philip GraultyTrombones Performed and Arranged by Tom Peyton, Greek Recitation by Mat Sweeney


hymn to dionysus (the liberator)

Hymnist (Helmsman) – Lukas Papenfusscline

Dancer (Dionysus) – Max Baumgarten

Chorus – Hyosun Choi, Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth (violin), Kasper (percussion)

Malachi Middleton Theodosia Roussos (oboe), James Vitz-Wong (bass)

Written & Composed by Mat Sweeney, Staged and Directed by Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, with additional Choreography by Hyosun Choi

Film Directed by Christin TurnerCinematography by Loreto Di Cesare

Costume by Lena SandsMakeup and Hair by Pamela Bjorklund Properties Designed and Constructed by Sebastian Peters-Lazaro

Music: Vocals – Lukas PapenfussclineAdditional Vocals – Yvette Corelia HolzwarthKasperTheodosia RoussosViolins & Viola Performance and Additional Arrangements by Yvette Cornelia HolzwarthClarinet Performed and Arranged with Ellen WarkentineOboe Performed by Thoeodosia Roussos, Bass, Synth, Additional Programming and Additional String Arrangements by Matt OrensteinVibraphone & Percussion Performed and Arranged by James WatermanGuitar Performed and Arranged by Philip GraultyHarmonium Performed and Arranged by Tom PeytonPreliminary String Arrangements Developed with Danny Echevarria & Prudence Rees-Lee, Additional Vocals for the Coda Performed and Arranged with Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth, Lisa SalvoEllen WarkentineGreek Recitation by Lukas Papenfusscline


hymn to selene

Hymnist – Kasper

Dancer – Hyosun Choi

Written & Composed by Mat Sweeney with Lyrics* by Jesse Rasmussen

Film Directed by Christin TurnerCinematography by Loreto Di Cesare

Staged and Directed by Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro

Movement Improvisations by Hyosun Choi

Costume by Lena SandsMakeup and Hair by Pamela Bjorklund Properties Designed and Constructed by Sebastian Peters-Lazaro

Music: Vocals by Kasper, Vibraphone Performed by James WatermanBass, Synth and Additional Programming by Matt OrensteinGuitar Performed and Arranged by Philip GraultyViolas Performed and Arranged by Yvette Cornelia HolzwarthGreek Recitation by Kasper


hymn to xenoi

Hymnists – Joanna Lynn-Jacobs (soloist), Sharon Chohi Kim, Hyosun Choi, Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth, Jett Kwong Kelly, Malachi Middleton  (featured movement)

Composed by Mat Sweeney & Ellen Warkentine with Lyrics* by Jesse Rasmussen, Staged and Directed by Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, with additional Choreography by Hyosun Choi

Film Directed by Christin TurnerCinematography by Loreto Di Cesare

Costume by Lena SandsMakeup and Hair by Pamela Bjorklund Properties Designed and Constructed by Sebastian Peters-Lazaro

Music: Vocals – Joanna Lynn-Jacobs  (soloist), Yvette Cornelia HolzwarthKasperSharon Chohi Kim, Jett Kwong KellySebastian Peters-LazaroMatt SweeneyJames Vitz-WongEllen Warkentine Guitar Performance and Arrangements, Additional Programming by Matt OrensteinGuzheng Performed and Arranged by Jett Kwong KellyField Recording by Joanna Lynn-JacobsGuitar arrangement originally developed with Danny Echevarria, Greek Recitation by Joanna Lynn-Jacobs


Produced by Four Larks – Artistic & Music Director Mat Sweeney, Production & Design Director Sebastian Peters-Lazaro 

Assistant Director & Producer: Miranda Peters-Lazaro

Line Producer: Xiaoyue Zhang

Music Produced by Matt Orenstein (Mixing), Mat Sweeney (Music Direction), & James Vitz-Wong (Editing, Engineering, & Additional Mixing)

Recorded by the performers at their homes, facilitated by James Vitz-Wong 

Mastered by Brendan Byrnes

Editor – Christin Turner

Assistant Editors – Sebastian Peters-Lazaro & Mat Sweeney

Color Correction – Matteo Saradini

2nd Camera – Elijah Garcia

Assistant Camera – Ari Nevarez

Second Assistant Director – Joe Garrity

Assistant Production Manager – Crystal Gehr

Filming Audio Facilitator – James Vitz-Wong, with Mat Sweeney & Sebastian Peters-Lazaro

Production Assistants –  Gezelle Barajas, Nicholas Ceballos, Anthony Lezama, Robby Meredith, Victoria Tavera

Additional Costume Construction: Ashphord Jacoway, Miranda Tejeda

Wardrobe Assistant: Ashphord Jacoway

Additional Make-Up Artists – Maria Abreu, Hannah Coyoc,  Jake C. Barber, & Rachel Lorsch

Additional Hairstylist – Chloe-nil Acerol

This project was supported in part by the Getty Villa Theater Lab

Executive Producers – Anna Woo, Laurel Kishi & Ralph Flores,  Senior Education Specialist – Dr. Shelby Brown, Technical Production – Heather Alvear, Christopher Jeong, Marvin Jones, Events Manager – Heather Leisy, Events Coordinator – Aaron Lee Harvey

Additional Support from:
University of La Verne : Theatre Arts Department

(Technical Director/Producer Alan Tollefson, and Associate Professor Tom Ontiveros) and the Digital Media Department (Associate Professor Morgan Sandler)

The UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture

(Sharon E. J. Gerstel, Director)

Network of Ensemble Theaters

NET/TEN Summer Virtual Exploration Grant

Bogliasco Foundation Study Center 
Special Thanks to:

Corby Baumgarten, Regan Baumgarten, Patricia Garza, Sharon E.J. Gerstel, Davina Moss, Mary Papenfuss, Martin Perret, Andrea Peters, Robyn & Gabriel Peters-Lazaro, Jim & Jenise Sweeney, Craig & Anne Turner, Alan Toleffson

UCLA Department of Classics, The Make-Up Designory