Spirit Horses (Concerto for Native American Flute and Chamber Orchestra)

by R. Carlos Nakai

Overview

Just when you think you've pigeonholed Carlos Nakai as the quintessential interpreter of traditional Native American flute music, he appears with an entirely different expression of his musical gifts. Spirit Horses may catch many of you off guard. As a collaborative exploration of contemporary music in the classical vein, it is unlike anything he has attempted before. Impressionistic and diffuse at first, it slowly begins to take shape, like physical forms emerging from gossamer veils of mist. The concerto was commissioned especially for Nakai and spotlights him in his most challenging setting to date. This recording has much to offer, from its multi-cultural rhythmic structures provided by master drummer Mark Sunkett, to the quirky avant-garde feel of Michael Hester's alto sax work. Composer/conductor James De Mars has created an unexpected and unusual blend of musical elements as a backdrop for Nakai's flute. In fact, certain passages feel like they could have been written for The Kronos Quartet. ~ Backroads Music/Heartbeats

Product Details

Release Date:	12/15/1993
Label:	Canyon Classics / Canyon Records
UPC:	0729337701427
Rank:	7615

Tracks

1. Premonitions of Christopher Columbus, for Native American flute, African percussion, alto saxophone, cello & piano
2. Tapestry V, for Native American flute, African percussion, alto saxophone, cello & synthesizer
3. Colors Fall, for Native American flute & European flute
4. Spirit Horses, concerto for Native American flute & chamber orchestra
5. Shaman's Call, for solo Native American Flute

Album Credits

Performance Credits

R. Carlos Nakai   Primary Artist,Flute,Native American Flute
Kevin Fuhrman   Suspended Cymbals,Gong
Sharon Stolper   Violin
Linda Lambie   Violin
Phyllis Skoldberg   Violin
Takayori Atsumi   Cello
Suzanne Tamblyn   Viola
Dan Swaim   Bass
Allen Ames   Violin
James Guy   Cello
Mark Sunkett   Suspended Cymbals,Percussion,Tom-Tom,Bongos,Gong
James DeMars   Synthesizer,Conductor,Piano
Eugene Lombardi   Violin
Xiaozhong "Alex" Zheng   Cello
Michael Hester   Sax (Alto)
Susan Ung   Viola
Eric Hoover   Flute
Robert Kaplan   Synthesizer

Technical Credits

R. Carlos Nakai   Composer
Peter Kater   Composer
Clarke Rigsby   Digital Editing,Mastering
Jack Miller   Engineer
Dr. Wallace Rave   Liner Notes
James DeMars   Producer,Composer
Robert Doyle   Liner Notes
John Running   Photography