NATIVE AMERICAN

Tallgrass Canticles (1994). Mixed choir div., soprano solo, strings, mandolin, harmonica, flute, trumpet, Native American flute and percussion, snare, cymbals. The first three movements explores the pre-historic life of the tallgrass prairie (at one point the hawk remembers when “mastadon broke through this shaggy plain”). Movements IV and V deal with the first coming of man to the prairie, and then the second wave that brought European settlers, and the clash between the two cultures. The work ends with a hopeful invitation to continued dialog between peoples. Total time 29:00.

I. Canticle of the Hawk
II. I Soar
III. These Wings Are My Eyes
IV. Tallgrass Canticle
V. High Ground

Thresholds CD
Video Commissioned by the Des Moines Choral Society
$12.95 Choral score
$40.00 Full score

The Dream Tree (1991). Native American folksinger Buffy St. Marie’s exquisitely beautiful melody and story of women who wait by the “dream tree,” or cradle, for their men to come home from the sea, arranged by Ben Allaway. SSA, piano, oboe, tubular bell. Any female choir. 4:00, easy-med.

$1.50 WARNER
Commissioned by Charles City (IA) Middle School

These Wings Are My Eyes from Tallgrass Canticles (1994). SSB (key of F) or SSA (see below), soprano solo, strings (or keyboard), optional harmonica or oboe, and/or mandolin. A gorgeous canon for three voices, the text is from the hawk’s perspective on humankind’s tendency toward selfishness.

$1.60 TMP CD
Commissioned by The Des Moines Choral Society

These Wings Are My Eyes from Tallgrass Canticles (1994). SSA (key of Eb), soprano solo, strings (or keyboard), optional harmonica or oboe, and/or mandolin. A gorgeous canon for three voices, the text is from the hawk’s perspective on humankind’s tendency toward selfishness.

$1.60 TMP CD
Commissioned by The Des Moines Choral Society