Harp
SKU:
HL.234540
Harp
Solo. Composed by
John Luther Adams. Music
Sales America. Classical.
Softcover. Composed 2017.
14 pages. Chester Music
#CH86295. Published by
Chester Music
(HL.234540).
9.0x12.0x0.09 inches.
English.
'This set
of miniatures is based on
traditional dance songs
of the Yupik Eskimo
people of Western Alaska.
In their original forms,
these melodies would be
sung in unison. The
first, third and fifth
songs would be
accompanied by frame
drums. The second and
fourth are game songs,
for jumping rope and
juggling pebbles. Aside
from the obvious
difference in
instrumentation, my
settings of these songs
differ from the Yup'ik
originals in other
respects. I have extended
and varied the melodies,
and added
countermelodies, ostinato
figurations,
introductions, interludes
and codas. The first four
melodies are drawn from
the collection Yup'ik
Eskimo songs, compiled by
Thomas F. Johnston, and
Tupou L. Pulu, and
published by the
University Of Alaska. The
fifth was 'loaned' to me
by Yup'ik singer and
dancer Chuna McIntyre,
who learned it in his
village of Eek, Alaska.
The poems preceding each
piece are rough
translations of the words
to the songs. These
verses are often cryptic
and enigmatic. Their
obscurity is increased
because some of the words
or their meanings have
been lost, over time.' -
John Luther Adams.
john-thomas-harpist
