Title: Native American Thoughts
Give Thanks, Earth Song, Teach Me
Composer: Porterfield
Publisher: Lorenz
Parts: 3-Part Mix
Other Instruments Used: Flute, hand drum, wind chimes and piano
Extras: This piece of music can be sung as a set or individually. ÒGive ThanksÓ is a capella with flute, ÒEarth SongÓ is taken from a speech and features hand drum and wind chimes, and ÒTeach MeÓ is about listening to the earth.
Title: Native American Suite
Lenape Song (Delaware), Apache Song (Ò49Ó Song), Zuni Sunrise Song (Pueblo)
Composer: Brent Michael Davids (found on www.brentmichdaeldavids.com)
Publisher: Earthsongs
Voicing: SATB
Duration: 9 Minutes
Extra: This suite is about a festival at night that goes into a late night festival then thankfulness for a new day. In a sense, its the Native American way of Ôpartying through the nightÕ. It is a percussive suite that includes a mixture of both Native American vocables and English lyrics.
Title: Two Native American Songs
Ancient Mother, The Earth is Our Mother
Composer: Leck
Publisher: Colla Voce
Arranger: Sletto
Voicing: SSA
Extra: Could not find more about it, but it is a good womenÕs chorus piece to use.
Title: We The People
Composer: Brent Michael Davids
Voicing: SSAATTBB
Instruments: Full Orchestra (triple windes) and American Indian Flute
Duration: 30 minutes
Extra: This was composed for the opening of the SmithsonianÕs National Museum of the American Indian. This song is a tribute to all Indians across American and their tribes. This song is also considered a masterworks of sorts.
Title: Heartbeat Song
Composer: Brent Michael Davids
Voicing: ChildrenÕs Choir (S)
Instruments: Piano
Duration: 6 minutes
Extra: This song is designed to be sung by children. It is a song about good family relationships and respect. It is meant to give strength and empower all who hear/perform it. It was originally composed as a theme for an alcohol and drug abuse prevention video by the Indian Rehabilitation, Inc."
TITLE: Spring Wind Dances at the River: Minnesota, Saint Croix, Mississippi
COMPOSER (ARRANGER): Brent Michael Davids
PUBLISHER: Brent Michael Davids
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
- Text: Written by Marcie R. Rendon. Each river has its own verse that describes the character and history of each particular river. Quoted within the new work, is one of the first known compositions by an American Indian composer known to exist, a hymn composed in both music and lyrics by Joseph Renville, a Dakota Indian.
- Form: 3 movements with three separate choirs that are combined for a finale
- Melodic/Harmonic Structure: C Major, ¾ time
- Accompaniment: Powwow drum, Various Rhythm Instruments
- Any other pertinent information: Each river is designed for different age-level choirs, from younger to older: Minnesota (S), Saint Croix (SA), Mississippi (SATB). Also this piece was commissioned to commemorate the Mingling of Waters Ceremony of the Grand Excurison celebration and presented by Xcel Energy. It premiered on Sunday, July 4, 2004 at St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis. Each of the three pieces can stand on their own there for the performance time can be from 10 minutes to 40 minutes.
TITLE: The Story of Crow
COMPOSER (ARRANGER:Brent Michael Davids
PUBLISHER: Brent Michael Davids
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
- Text: Joy Harjo wrote the lyrics and narrative. ÒCrowÓ tells the tale of a Crow whose life is dramatically changed because of his vain and boasting character. The vocables are syllables used to communicate feelings in traditional Native American songs.
- Form: 6 movements
- Melodic/Harmonic Structure: This piece includes triadic and chordal harmonies of western music along side Native American melodies and vocables.
- Accompaniment: Flute, Shaker, Tambourine, Skin Drum, Narrator
- Any other pertinent information: This piece is for a Boys Choir (Trebles I, II, III) a recording is available at http://www.brentmichaeldavids.com
TITLE: Mohican Friends
COMPOSER (ARRANGER): Brent Michael Davids
PUBLISHER: Brent Michael Davids
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG:
- Text: Mohican Friends teaches introductory vocal sounds and words in the Mohican language. The text reveals something of what a traditional Mohican thinks about, namely the importance of good familial relationships and about respecting others.
- Form: C major, many key changes, contemporary
- Melodic/Harmonic Structure:
- Accompaniment: 2 Soprano Flutes, Triangle, Shaker, Tamborurine, Skin Drum
- Any other pertinent information: This piece is written with a lot of depth and feeling and very much depicts the heart of the Mohican culture and lifestyle.
TITLE: Heartbeat Song
COMPOSER (ARRANGER): Brent Michael Davids
UBLISHER: Brent Michael Davids
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
- Text: the text teaches about the importance of good familial relationships, and about respecting others and ourselves. While the Heartbeat Song is a fun and cheerful childrenÕs song, it is also a song of strength and empowerment.
- Form: The beginning is fast and then settles into a light rock feal.
- Melodic/Harmonic Structure: F Major
- Accompaniment: Piano
- Any other pertinent information: The HeartBeat Song was originally composed as the theme for a prevention video produced by Indian Rehab, Inc. in Phoenix
TITLE: Wampe
COMPOSER (ARRANGER): Brent Michael Davids
PUBLISHER: Brent Michael Davids
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG:
- Text: Wampe means Ògood waterÓ in Mohican and similarly WAMPE affirms the life-giving respect that all indigenous peoples and Mohicans in particular give to the water. The text of Wampe consists entirely of the word ÒwampeÓ and Native American ÒvocablesÓ, while the musical phrases immerse themselves in imagery of the Mohican creation story
- Form: 2/4 4/4/ 6/4 included
- Melodic/Harmonic Structure: in C Major
- Accompaniment: SATB chorus, and 4 instrumentalists (flute, shaker, orchestra bells, cortales, skin drum, timpani, cello).
- For all of these selections I included a link to JW Pepper's website where you can view the music and listen to either excerpts or the entire thing, as well as read an additional description.
TITLE A Native American Prayer SATB
COMPOSER (ARRANGER) Nolan Schmit
PUBLISHER Lorenz Publishing Company
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
The text is a traditional Native American Prayer, sung in English, asking the Great Spirit for strength and wisdom. The piece starts with soli soprano section stating the main theme. Voices are gradually added until full four part SATB harmony is reached. The melody is very lyrical, and the harmonies are traditional western harmonies. The piano accompaniment gives strong suggestions of Native American music (many perfect fourths and fifths are used.)
http://www.jwpepper.com/3295740.item
TITLE Spirit Eternal SATB
COMPOSER (ARRANGER) Carl Strommen
PUBLISHER Carl Fischer
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
Selecting a text from the American Plains Indians as inspiration, Carl Strommen has composed a distinguished concert and festival work that will enthrall audiences each time it is performed. An opening a cappella statement moves into a joyous dance section in 7/8 featuring percussion, piano, and building repetitive vocal lines that propel the music off the page and into the hearts of the participants. All four parts come together to build to a climax and fade away in the end. The concluding section triumphantly returns to material from the opening measures. Unique and masterfully crafted, this is a strong Native American musical statement and a work that demands to be heard. Extraordinary!
http://www.jwpepper.com/3250743.item
TITLE People of the Willows SSA
COMPOSER (ARRANGER) Tom Porter
PUBLISHER Lorenz Publishing Company
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
People of the Willows is a tribute to the Mandan Indians, a tribe located in North Dakota that was known as the People of the Willows. The piece starts out in unison, singing perfect fifths to create that Native American feel. The other two voices are added in a call and response manner, and near the end, becomes a three part canon. The accompaniment calls for flute and hand drum, which creates a beautiful primitive feeling. This piece would be good for womenÕs choir, or for young voices.
http://www.jwpepper.com/3301029.item
TITLE All Things are Connected
COMPOSER (ARRANGER) Mary Lynn Lightfoot
PUBLISHER Lorenz Publishing Company
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
All Things are Connected comes in several different voice arrangements for SATB, SA and men, SSA, Two Part, and TB. All arrangements are about intermediate difficulty, and the SA and SSA arrangements could be used for young choirs. The text is about caring for and appreciating nature, and talks about how children will inherit the Earth. It would be a great piece for a multicultural assembly/performance for elementary aged children. All arrangements call for piano accompaniment, and there is a section of narrated text at the beginning that reads:
The wisdom of the great Chief Seattle reminds us:
ÒAll things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth
befalls the children of the earth. All things share the same breath,
the beast the tree, the manÉthe air shares its spirit with all the life it supportsÉÓ
http://www.jwpepper.com/3302459.item
TITLE Song for Mother Earth (Two-part choir)
COMPOSER (ARRANGER) Lana Walter
PUBLISHER Alfred Publishing
DESCRIPTION OF THE SONG
This simple piece would be great for young voices. The two parts could be switched between groups, as it is not voice specific. Song for Mother Earth reminds the listener to take care of the Earth and our environment. It is another good choice for a multicultural assembly. The accompaniment calls for piano and hand drum. Perfect fifths in the piano create a primitive feel.
http://www.jwpepper.com/1969534.item
TITLE Farewell, My Friend (A Native American Blessing)
COMPOSER Berta and Sonja Poorman
PUBLISHER ALFRED PUBLISHING
The Poormans have adapted several Native American songs to bring us this choral closer. The message is strong and incorporates poetry from the Potawatomi Native American tribe from the Great Lakes region. A perfect close to any concert throughout the year!
-SATB
TITLE American Indian Songs
COMPOSER Kenneth Jennings
PUBLISHER WALTON MUSIC
A collection of Native American Songs with piano accompaniment.
-SATB
TITLE Indian Lullaby
COMPOSER Anderson
PUBLISHERLESLIE MUSIC SUPPLY INC
-Unison
TITLE Swift As An Indian Arrow Flies
COMPOSER Billings
PUBLISHER WALTON MUSIC
-SATB
TITLE Invocation Peace
COMPOSER Alice Parker
PUBLISHER E.C. SCHIRMER MUSIC CO
Two-voice setting adapted from an Omaha Indian spiritual text invoking the unity of earth, sky, and waters and all creatures that dwell in them.
-Two Part Mixed
Medium Easy"
TITLE Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
COMPOSER Jeff Reeves
PUBLISHER Choristers Guild
Easy (1)
In this delightful new setting of the well-known carol, your young singers will sound like your very own choir of angels. The optional instruments add depth and richness to the hauntingly beautiful melody. It also includes a "Did You Know?" page which presents historical facts and sample phrases from the original Huron Language, painting a fascinating picture of the Christmas story from a Native American perspective.
TITLE Earth Drum Dance
COMPOSER Will Schmid
PUBLISHER Hal Leonard Publishing
Medium-Difficult (3)
Combining original and Native American melodies and texts, this piece for voices and "World Music Drumming" ensemble is a celebration of the earth and its beauty. Perform it with instruments and dance for Earth Day, harvest celebrations or other concert programs. With percussion and recorder duet.
TITLE Shoshone Love Song
COMPOSER Roger Emerson
PUBLISHER Hal Leonard Publishing
Easy (1+)
This tender setting of a Native American poem features extended legato phrasing and delicate musicality. The simple piano accompaniment supports the expressive vocal textures. Ideal for concert or festival programming.
TITLE White Feathers
COMPOSER Raminsh
PUBLISHER Boosey & Hawkes
Medium (2+)
White Feathers is set to a translation from the Papago by Frances Densmore (1867-1957), the foremost authority on the songs and music of American Indian tribes. The text likely describes or suggests the wisps of clouds on the western horizon illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun.
*Music and score information found on www.jwpepper.com*"
TITLE In The
Beauty Way
COMPOSER D. Brunner
PUBLISHER BOOSEY & HAWKES
Written for a community of singers, both children (Treble Choir) and adults (Mixed Choir). The music reflects a Native American influence, though it does not employ authentic native musical elements. A simple, heartfelt text (Navajo Prayer by Leo Platero) is set in repetitive, chant-like phrases, uncluttered textures, an intoned Navajo prayer, and a soaring melody in the children's voices.
- SATB and piano
TITLE
Land Of The Silver Birch
ARRANGER Michael Neaum
PUBLISHER ALLIANCE MUSIC PUBLISHING
"Blue lake and rocky shore, I will return once more, Boom de de boom boom boom..." In this charming setting of the Canadian folk song, the voices, piano and hand drum all work together very effectively to evoke a feeling of Native American culture. The effect is quite magical!
- SSA, piano, and hand drum
TITLE
Rain Dance
COMPOSER Berta & Sonja Poorman
ARRANGER ALFRED PUBLISHING
"Mother Earth, Father Sky, look upon the land so dry." Recreate the splendor of a rain storm with this Native American-inspired dance composed especially for two-part choirs. Include your own bells, hand drum, and rainstick for character on this delightful rendering that celebrates the culture of the Native Americans and their intimate relationship with the natural world. Effective and rewarding!
- 2-part voices, piano, optional bells, rainstick, and hand drum