Iholba'

The Vision

Tracing Mississippi

Sun Thunder

Lowak Shoppala' (Fire & Light)

Spider Brings Fire

Minko (Chief)

"MoonStrike" is a universal celebration of storytelling, space, and folk song. The title work, MoonStrike, by Chickasaw composer and U.S. Cultural Ambassador Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, is narrated by Chickasaw astronaut John Herrington, the first American Indian citizen to fly in space. All three works were commissioned by Apollo Chamber Players as part of its 20x2020 project, launched in 2014 with a mission to commission 20 new multicultural works before the end of the last decade.

Moonstrike

Moonstrike: I. Origin of the Moon

Moonstrike: Prologue

Moonstrike: Corn Dance

Waktégli Olówaŋ (Victory Songs) is composed in honor of Robert Moore, Lloyd Running Bear, Sr. and all Lakota warriors. It is based upon the book Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains, by Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohíye S’a). Eastman (1858-1939) was a Santee Sioux physician, writer, lecturer and reformer. His literary output is an outstanding personal account of Sioux history. Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains is a set of 15 biographies of historic Sioux warriors, most of whom Eastman knew personally.

Victory songs are traditional songs made specifically for Lakota warriors and their immediate victories and accomplishments. They were composed by a warrior who was recounting his victories in battle, or in honor of a recently fallen warrior. These songs are of great importance, for they actually serve as aural historical documents for Lakota tribal members

Waktégli Olówaŋ is an orchestral rhapsody, inspired by Eastman’s writings, and features five of the warriors in his book: Red Cloud, Two Strike, Gall, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. Through symphonic and vocal poetry, each movement depicts a warrior and his deeds The introduction expresses honor and respect to the Great Sioux Nation from a Chickasaw man. Musical material is inspired by and quoted from existing Lakota victory songs and honor songs. Original poetry is by the composer.

Waktégli Olówaŋ was commissioned by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and premiered on January 12, 1013.

Waktégli Olówaŋ V. Crazy Horse (Tȟašúŋke Witkó)

Waktégli Olówaŋ IV. Gall (Phizí)

Waktégli Olówaŋ III. Two-Strike (Núm KaȟpÁ)

Waktégli Olówaŋ II. Red Cloud (Maȟpíya Úta)

Waktégli Olówaŋ I. Introduction

Within

Heloha Okchamali (Blue Thunder): III. The Trickster

Ghost of the White Deer is a romantic and dramatic bassoon concerto which tells the legend of two young Chickasaw Indians in love. In this concerto, the bassoon depicts all aspects of the characters, specifically the timbre and calling of the sacred white deer. The story is as follows:

A brave and young Chikasha warrior, Blue Jay, fell in love with Bright Moon, the daughter of a Minko (Chief). The Minko did not like the young man, so he created a price for the bride that he was sure Blue Jay could not pay.

"Bring me the hide of the White Deer,” said the Minko. The Chikasha believed that all white animals were magical. "The price for my daughter is one white deer,” the Minko laughed. He knew that an albino deer was very rare and would be very hard to find. White deerskin was the best material to use in a wedding dress, and the best white deer skin came from the albino deer.

Blue Jay went to his beloved, Bright Moon. "In one moon’s time, I will return with your bride price and we will be married. This I promise you." Taking his best bow and his sharpest arrows, Blue Jay began to hunt.

Three weeks went by. Blue Jay was hungry, lonely, and scratched by briars. Then, one night during a full moon, Blue Jay saw a white deer, who seemed to drift through the moonlight. When the deer was very close to where Blue Jay hid, he shot his sharpest arrow. The arrow sank deep into the deer’s heart. But instead of sinking to his knees to die, the deer began to run. Instead of running away, he charged straight toward Blue Jay, with his red eyes glowing and his horns sharp and menacing…

A month passed and Blue Jay did not return as he had promised Bright Moon. After months of waiting, the tribe decided that he would never return.

But Bright Moon never took any other young man as a husband, for she had a secret. When the moon was shining as brightly as her name, Bright Moon would often see the white deer in the smoke of the campfire, running, with an arrow in his heart. She lived believing the deer would finally fall, and Blue Jay would return.

The concerto is a continuous work, delineated by the sections entitled:

Prelude
Laughing Minko
The Forest
Shared Dreams
Dawn/Sunrise
Out of the Ashes
Ghost of the White Deer

Ghost of the White Deer was commissioned by Ted Soluri, Principal Bassoon of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Ghost of the White Deer

Chokfi' is the Chickasaw word for rabbit, who is an important trickster legend within Southeast American Indian cultures.

Inspired by a commission for youth orchestra I decided to create a character sketch that would be both fun and challenging for the kids. Different string and percussion techniques and colors represent the complicated and diabolical personality of this rabbit person.

In honor of my Muscogee Creek friends, I have incorporated a popular tribal church hymn as the melodic and musical base.

Chofki' (Rabbit): Sarcasm for String Orchestra and Percussion

Oshta is the Chickasaw word for the number four and became the title of this work in the spirit of Irina’s project, Four Strings Across the World.

The work is closely based upon a Choctaw church hymn that was composed in the 1800’s. One unique artistic development that grew out of European contact is the modern American Indian church hymn. As missionaries fanned out across Indian Country they became the first to document our Native languages and create translations of The Bible and other Christian texts, including church hymns. This almost immediately lead to a new series of hybrid music, composed by tribal citizens. For Southeast Indians (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek and Seminole) this hybrid style of music is now 300 years old and contains a vast repertoire. The music is unmistakably Native and added a third type of traditional music alongside stomp dancing music and our old folk songs.

Oshta presents the Choctaw Hymn 35 as the centerpiece and is embedded within my abstractions of the melody and my feelings of the ancient time in which it was originally composed.

Oshta

Seminole Snake Dance is composed in the memory of and dedicated to Enoch Kelly Haney. Mr. Haney (Seminole/Muscogee) was an internationally recognized artist from Oklahoma, served as Principal Chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and served as a member of both houses of the Oklahoma Legislature. He created the bronze statue, The Guardian, which sits atop the Oklahoma State Capitol. He was also a candidate for the office of Governor of Oklahoma and a well-known humanitarian and mentor. I was honored to call him my friend.

Seminole Snake Dance was commissioned by Steve Johnson, Director of Bands for Seminole Jr. High and High Schools. It is meant to be a fun opener for a band concert. My friend, Steven, wanted an exciting new piece for his students, highlighting his drum-line percussion section.

This work is based upon an ancient Seminole Indian snake dance, in celebration of Kelly and Steve. It begins and ends with a triumphant quote of the snake dance melody, which contains the overwhelmingly positive energy of these two great men.

Seminole Snake Dance

MoonStrike is a work composed for Apollo Chamber Players, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and features American Indian stories with a live narrator. American Indian legends are very colorful and have a tendency to take twists and turns within the narrative. Regarding the Moon, it is very consistent that the traditional tales involve trickster characters and competitions for ownership of this precious object. MoonStrike involves three diverse American Indian legends, includes traditional songs and is bookended with an arrangement of a Calusa Corn Dance. For Southeast Indians, this Green Corn Dance took place during the annual, fall Harvest Moon.
MoonStrike is dedicated to the memory of Margo Aragon-Herrington. It was Margo’s wish that John Herrington and I would collaborate with American Indian astrological stories and it is my joy and honor to realize this dream. 

MOONSTRIKE
Prologue: Calusa Corn Dance(Calusa/Seminole)
I. Origin of the Moon (Kalispel)
II. The Man Who Married the Moon (Isleta Pueblo)
III. Raven Steals the Moon
Epilogue: Calusa Corn Dance (Calusa/Seminole)

MoonStrike

Tale Still Told

Snake Oil: VIII. Aberration VI (Scourge)

Snake Oil: VII. Descent

Snake Oil: VI. Aberration V (Snake Waltz)

Snake Oil: V. Aberration IV (Snake Song)

Snake Oil: II. Aberration I (Waves)

Snake Oil: I. Raise

Fani' (Squirrel)

Acho'chaba' (Alligator)

Winter Moons

Salmon

Shawi' (Racoon)

Kowishto' Losa' (Panther)

Koni (Skunk)

Foshi' (Bird)

Loksi' Shaali' is the beloved Chickasaw legend of how our people were gifted turtle rattles as our shakers for stomp dancing. The main character is Loksi' (the Chickasaw word for turtle). She is struggling with her personal identity and finding her place within the community. Her grandmother instructs her to speak to the River, from whom Chickasaws seek advice. River tells Loksi' she is to live in the forest, alone, for four years. In the forest, she makes friends with the woodland animals, who teach her all the ways in which Chickasaw people are to live. Her forest mentor, Loksi' Sipokni' (The Old Turtle) guides her through her teachings. The evening he passes to the Spirit World, he bestows her final gift of the turtle rattles. Loksi' returns home, a hero, and new female leader of her people. Loksi' Shaali' is sung entirely in the Chickasaw language.

Loksi' Shaali' (Shell Shaker): A Chickasaw Opera

Chokfi' is the Chickasaw word for rabbit, who is an important trickster legend within Southeast American Indian cultures.

Inspired by a commission for youth orchestra I decided to create a character sketch that would be both fun and challenging for the kids. Different string and percussion techniques and colors represent the complicated and diabolical personality of this rabbit person. For example, the opening and varied meter changes represents the unpredictable and sudden direction changes a rabbit makes during a chase. Couched in this multi-metered passage is a traditional melody in the second violins.

In honor of my Muscogee Creek friends, I have incorporated a popular tribal church hymn as the melodic and musical base.

Chokfi' (Rabbit): Sarcasm for String Orchestra and Percussion

Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate (Chickasaw) is a dedicated American Indian classical composer and pianist who expresses his native culture in symphonic music, ballet and opera. All of his compositions have been commissioned by major North American orchestras, ensembles and organizations and his works are performed throughout the world.

Popular tracks by JerodTate