Rain Songs: Suite for Solo Cello
Rain Songs is intended as a loose interpretation of a Native American rain dance and the ceremony surrounding it. The titles of movements were suggested by poems from The Winged Serpent: An Anthology of American Indian Prose and Poetry (ed. Margot Astrov; Fawcett: 1946). The piece is also unique in that it was intentionally composed in such a way as to give the performer a great deal of freedom to interpret and “own” the music.
Over the past several years, I’ve been incredibly blessed to work with some truly amazing cellists. These include Sarah Lantz, for whom Rain Songs was originally written in 2003, and more recently, Rachel Ashley Smith, Sonja Kent, and McLane Watson. Additionally, a tremendous debt of gratitude is due to Shawna Roxanne-Mays, whose input was invaluable to the preparation of the current edition. If there is a distinction to be made between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation — and I am convinced there is — Shawna was instrumental in making sure this work sits solidly on the right side of that divide.
Duration: 17 minutes
Over the past several years, I’ve been incredibly blessed to work with some truly amazing cellists. These include Sarah Lantz, for whom Rain Songs was originally written in 2003, and more recently, Rachel Ashley Smith, Sonja Kent, and McLane Watson. Additionally, a tremendous debt of gratitude is due to Shawna Roxanne-Mays, whose input was invaluable to the preparation of the current edition. If there is a distinction to be made between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation — and I am convinced there is — Shawna was instrumental in making sure this work sits solidly on the right side of that divide.
Duration: 17 minutes
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