The fourth part of "Argonautica" is about the journey through the Symplegades (or clashing rocks), andpart 5 is about Jason's tasks in Colchis Part IV lyrics: Crashing cliffs, a deadly strait Only way thru, only gate No ship has crossed this deadly path All crushed and thrown to a salty bath There is but one test, but one way We must go thru, or we must stay Colliding, pulverizing Doom not surprising Fly a dove thru for a test Safe for it, safe for us rest It lost but a fea-ther Come thru to clearer weather Part V lyrics: Aeetes with the fleece Truly a hard task Must do three feats for the wool Do it now or your journey's null Plow the field with the fiery ox Smitten Medea will help out And the balm, fire it blocks Dragon's teeth sown in the field Sprouting into the Saprtoi Throw the rock and self-destroy Sleepless Dragon Guards the sheep's hide Elixir, time to slumber Time to flee Aeetes Distract him Apsyrtus Is cut up In the sea

The third part of "Argonautica" concerns the Argonauts' slaying of the Harpies that tortured the blind seer Phineus. Thracian Phineus Forseer by Apollo See the future of it all Go blind and live long Spite Helios Now in darkness The sun is angry Loose the harpies Emaciate Phineus Jason, slay the hags Haul them away in bags Relieve him of this weight Reveal to him Where is Colchis And the Symplegades

Here is Seth Chizeck of the world-renowned Mt. Lebanon High School Percussion Ensemble, performing Leander Kaiser's Symplegades.

Part 6 of "Argonautica," the Return to Iolcus, is about Jason's and Medea's return to Iolcus, the murder of Peleas, and the Iolcans' disgust and rejection of Jason We fled the Colchans Into the sea They were chasing Medea and me We had to kill her brother We just had to flee We went to Circe To purify To Ææa We had to fly Sought her counsel there So to get by The horrid sirens And Talos we fought The singing devils And metal man wrought If not for lyre and nail It would have been naught Where is my throne? Where is my crown? Give me my right Give me my ground Get out of my sight Get out of my town Medea tricked Naïve girls Using magic Wonder of the world Now Peleas slain, His flesh does curl Get out of here! Leave right now! Wipe the blood And sweat from your brow. Fine, we don’t need you Anyhow!

The instrumental introduction and first part of my work "Argonautica." The first part, Peleas and the Fleece, concerns Peleas' plan to overtly kill Jason, the rightful heir to the throne of Iolcus by sending him after the golden fleece in Colchis. Lyrics below. To be gone with this man This nephew, this of mine With his claim to the land It is now his due time But the golden sheep of old Its hide hung high Covered in fleece of gold It's at the Earth's dark end Certainly out of reach I'll send him out for it A lesson for to teach Now get yourself a strong ship And then prepare For your perilous trip Do this now, this hard task And you will earn my laud Bring the fleece back with you You will live like a god

The second part of "Argonautica" is split into three subsections. Section A is about Aphrodite's curse on the Lemnians and the Argonauts subsequent breaking of the curse. Section B, "Kyzicos," is about the visit to King Kyzicos of the Doleones and an ensuing battle in confusion. Section C, "Mysia," is about the death of one of Herakles' servants. Section A lyrics: The goddess Aphrodite Most vengeful in her wrath Has smote an awful curse On the Lemnians in her path Let the ladies be foul Let the men be loose Let a feminine rage pour out And spite the men forsooth The Argonauts shall father men The ladies will rejoice The people to continue Let them mother boys . Section B lyrics: A friendly land is this? I don't know We're just not near King Kyzicos What a kind man, Dolione We set sail earlier today Then night came and blew it away Strong Boreas, not for play Where are we, cruel Mnemosyne? Re-fresh me, 'fore I go blind Is there something we've left behind? Crash on land, some unknown shore Now we must fight, must kill some more Ares, don't treat us poor King Kyzicos, you lay now slain Didn't know who it was, meant you no pain We didn't mean to. Have no disdain Section C lyrics: Young Hylas Tempted by nymphs Pulled down Forever Distraught Herakles Takes his leave To his labors Young Hylas Tempted by nymphs Pulled down Forever Distraught Herakles Takes his leave To his labors