Michael Maier’s Atalanta Fugiens (1618)
The Three Voices in Atalanta Fugiens
The first musical page in Atalanta Fugiens labels its parts through the race of Atalanta and Hippomenes. Atalanta is the fleeing voice, Hippomenes the following voice, and the thrown apple the delaying voice. These names give the music a narrative vocabulary as well as a practical division into parts. The introductory author’s epigram has already described a threefold voice and distinguished fleeing, following and delay. Here the names are recorded as printed roles in a historical composition; the entry does not claim that they establish a universal set of alchemical substances or provide a complete modern performance analysis.
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In the sources
A three-part contrast
DocumentedThe introductory verse contrasts the fleeing and following voices with a simple voice that delays.
The score names its participants
DocumentedFuga I labels Atalanta as the fleeing voice, Hippomenes as the following voice, and the apple as the delaying voice.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows Michael Maier’s Latin and German Atalanta Fugiens in the scanned edition dated 1618. Statements are attributed to that historical emblem book. The source links identify the actual image, music or prose page; the interpretation is editorial.
Original passages
Source 1
Atalanta Fugiens
Altera sed fugiens, tertia rite sequensOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Epigramma Authoris, introductory verse
Actual checksum-verified public Reader scan inspected. Short quotation transcribed from the page, with long s, line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0287-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0287-E001-P0003
- Original scan leaf
- 10
- Recorded leaf number
- 10
- Current Reader position
- 3
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Atalanta Fugiens
Atalanta seu vox FugiensOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Fuga I, printed p. 12, three part labels
Actual checksum-verified public Reader scan inspected. Short quotation transcribed from the page, with long s, line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0287-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0287-E001-P0013
- Original scan leaf
- 20
- Recorded leaf number
- 20
- Current Reader position
- 13
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Atalanta Fugiens
Maier’s alchemical emblem book brings engraved images, epigrams, prose and three-voice music into a single sequence.
Shared source pageThe Wind Bearing an Embryo
Maier’s first emblem pictures an infant inside a personified wind, joining the Latin motto to an image of Boreas.
Same subject and traditionThe Washerwoman in Atalanta Fugiens
The household washing scene through which Maier connects cleansing with the varied operations of the chymist.