The song explores Roman entertainments...including the gladiators.
Introduction
With Mercury's help we visit different arenas for Roman 'entertainment'. Poetry and drama are performed in special half-circle theatres built of stone. The song 'Into the arena' reflects the contrast between ‘comedy’ and ‘tragedy’ in its melody phrases going up and down.
At a huge racing arena – the Circus Maximus – horses and chariots race dangerously around a long race-track; at an amphitheatre wild animals are cruelly displayed and hunted down and at the Colosseum gladiators fight to the death. Why…?
The song reflects on these changing moods, also reflected in the changing accompaniments, which include some contemporary styles and elements.
The song: 'Into the arena'
Song 7: 'Into the arena' (Vocal)
Into the arena,
Mask and mime and drama,
Audience all round there,
Waiting for the show.
Tragedy and comedy
And poetry performed there,
Into the arena, go!
Into the arena,
Chariots and horses,
Teams of different colours
Red, white, blue and green.
Round the Circus Maximus
They race around in danger,
Who's the fastest to be seen?
Into the arena,
Cruelty and horror,
Animals displayed there
Hunted till they die,
Antelope and elephant
And lion, bear and leopard,
Into the arena, why?
Into the arena,
Gladiators fighting,
Locked in mortal combat
Fighting to the death.
Wrestling with weaponry
And nets and shields and armour,
Struggling for their final breath.
Into the arena,
Mask and mime and drama,
Audience all round there,
Waiting for the show.
Tragedy and comedy
And poetry performed there,
Into the arena, go!
Into the arena, go…!
Into the arena, go…!.
Into the arena, go…!
Into the arena, go…!
Song 7: 'Into the Arena' (Backing)
Into the arena,
Mask and mime and drama,
Audience all round there,
Waiting for the show.
Tragedy and comedy
And poetry performed there,
Into the arena, go!
Into the arena,
Chariots and horses,
Teams of different colours
Red, white, blue and green.
Round the Circus Maximus
They race around in danger,
Who's the fastest to be seen?
Into the arena,
Cruelty and horror,
Animals displayed there
Hunted till they die,
Antelope and elephant
And lion, bear and leopard,
Into the arena, why?
Into the arena,
Gladiators fighting,
Locked in mortal combat
Fighting to the death.
Wrestling with weaponry
And nets and shields and armour,
Struggling for their final breath.
Into the arena,
Mask and mime and drama,
Audience all round there,
Waiting for the show.
Tragedy and comedy
And poetry performed there,
Into the arena, go!
Into the arena, go…!
Into the arena, go…!.
Into the arena, go…!
Into the arena, go…!
Downloads
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More from this series
6. Roman gods and goddesses. audio
Exploring the pantheon of Roman gods and goddesses.
8. Make a mosaic. audio
Exploring Roman arts and crafts, including mosaics and pottery.
9. Rehearsal and performance 1. audio
Rehearse the first four songs of Romans using the full-vocal and backing track versions.
