Daphne of the Dunes

Partch composed and produced the music for the film Windsong by Madeline Tourtelot in 1958. In this film, the ancient legend of Daphne and Apollo was transferred to the dunes of Lake Michigan – as a reference to the sexual ethics of the Puritans in the USA. Later, the film music was turned into the ballet music Daphne of the Dunes. Contrasting tonalities and frequent changes of mood correspond to the fast cuts in the film. The music equally recalls images of nature including sand, water, snakes, and seagulls.