- Pura Fé wrote her suite of Rattle Songs for her ensemble, Ulali, in 1994. 30 years later, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate made an orchestral arrangement of the piece.
- Seven movements:
- Shanoojhee
- Viri Kuta
- Haweheemo
- Grammah Easter’s Lullaby
- For the Pepper
- Women’s Shuffle
- Great Grandpa’s Banjo
- Program notes written by Tate:
- “Chickasaw music is based in turtle shell shaking, as is our percussion for stomp dancing and social songs. The Tuscarora people share a very similar shell shaking tradition, as do most Native woodland tribes. In Rattle Songs, Ulali brought together songs from different parts of Indian Country and brilliantly couched them in traditional woodland shell shaking styles.
… After consulting with Pura Fé, I have created these orchestrations that are classically impressionistic in a post-modern style. I make no deliberate attempt to imitate the exact sound of rattles from the original songs; rather, I have created a new home for them in the String quartet. Pura Fé created Rattle Songs as an homage to her Native North American cousins and it is my hope that my orchestrations create another layer of honoring our people.”1
- “Chickasaw music is based in turtle shell shaking, as is our percussion for stomp dancing and social songs. The Tuscarora people share a very similar shell shaking tradition, as do most Native woodland tribes. In Rattle Songs, Ulali brought together songs from different parts of Indian Country and brilliantly couched them in traditional woodland shell shaking styles.
Sources
- Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, Notes in accompanying booklet, Woodland Songs performed by Dover Quartet, Curtis Institute of Music 28050, 2025, compact disc.
Cut IDs
27423