Work
Northwest
Photo by Danica Paulos
Program note by John Luther Adams, for Northwest:
These little pieces are inspired by the traditional music of the Yup'ik people of western Alaska and the Athabascan people of interior Alaska.
Grandpa Joe's Traveling Song is based on a melody by the late Joe Beetus, a Koyukon elder from the village of Huslia, and was "borrowed" with his permission.
The melodies of Invitation to Dance, Jump Rope Song, Shaman's Moon Song, and Juggling Song are drawn from the collectionYup'ik Eskimo Songs, compiled by Thomas F. Johnston and Tupou L. Pulu, and published by the University of Alaska.
It Circles Me was "loaned" to me by Yup'ik singer, dancer and tradition bearer Chuna McIntyre, who learned it in his home village of Eek, Alaska.
Deenaadai' (Long Ago) and Shik'eenoohtii (My Relatives) are original melodies derived from my song settings of a poem by my friend Adeline Peter Raboff written in the dialect of her Gwich'in people, who inhabit the country from Arctic Village to Old Crow.
Yup'ik and Athabascan music is usually accompanied by drums and sung in unison, with no harmony or counterpoint. Beyond changing the instrumentation, I've extended and varied the traditional melodies, adding countermelodies, ostinato figurations, introductions, interludes and codas. And I hope that my settings of these melodies convey my deep respect for their origins.
These little pieces are inspired by the traditional music of the Yup'ik people of western Alaska and the Athabascan people of interior Alaska.
Grandpa Joe's Traveling Song is based on a melody by the late Joe Beetus, a Koyukon elder from the village of Huslia, and was "borrowed" with his permission.
The melodies of Invitation to Dance, Jump Rope Song, Shaman's Moon Song, and Juggling Song are drawn from the collectionYup'ik Eskimo Songs, compiled by Thomas F. Johnston and Tupou L. Pulu, and published by the University of Alaska.
It Circles Me was "loaned" to me by Yup'ik singer, dancer and tradition bearer Chuna McIntyre, who learned it in his home village of Eek, Alaska.
Deenaadai' (Long Ago) and Shik'eenoohtii (My Relatives) are original melodies derived from my song settings of a poem by my friend Adeline Peter Raboff written in the dialect of her Gwich'in people, who inhabit the country from Arctic Village to Old Crow.
Yup'ik and Athabascan music is usually accompanied by drums and sung in unison, with no harmony or counterpoint. Beyond changing the instrumentation, I've extended and varied the traditional melodies, adding countermelodies, ostinato figurations, introductions, interludes and codas. And I hope that my settings of these melodies convey my deep respect for their origins.
John Luther Adams - “Five Athabascan Dances (#1,2, and 4)”; “Five Yup’ik Dances”
Harp, Percussion
10
18 minutes