Hymn to the Great Spirit

Description

Arranged by Matthew R. Putnam, this Native American folksong has been set with the intent to give all royalty proceeds back to the original people to inhabit the North American continent.

Program Notes

For thousands of years, the Cherokee people have inhabited and stewarded the land in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The Cherokee people have a vibrant culture that reflects their resilience in facing the hardships they have encountered across the centuries. To honor and celebrate these people and their legacy in North Carolina, this piece was commissioned by my dear friend Carolyn Smith and the Western NC All-District Band. This piece is based on the traditional Cherokee song “Wendeyaho.” This song, some translate as “Cherokee Morning Song,” is typically sung by women of the community in the morning as they turn to face each of the cardinal directions. The translated lyrics read “A we n’ (I am) de (of) Yauh (the Great Spirit) ho (it is so),” indicating that this is a hymn of praise to the Great Spirit. It is my hope that in performing this piece, musicians and audiences will celebrate the reverence, strength, and beauty of the Cherokee people.