A Native-Inspired Symphony in Phoenix

By Daniel Gibson

An ancient story of the Navajo people is played out in a contemporary retelling in music, when the Phoenix Symphony presents Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio, Feb. 7–9 at Phoenix Symphony Hall downtown.

left: Photo by Deborah O’Grady

The world premiere of the orchestral and chorus work, by Composer-in-Residence Mark Grey with both Western and Native American musical components, will be performed by the 76-piece orchestra and 150-voice chorus, promising a very special event.

Based on the Navajo’s epic oral tale of Enemy Slayer, who was born to protect the Navajo and rid the world of monsters, the oratorio describes the journey of the young Navajo man Seeker (sung by baritone Scott Hendricks), an Iraq War veteran, who returns home to a heartfelt welcome. But while he has left the war behind, Seeker’s battles are not over. The emotional scars of combat plague him as he wrestles with the demons now in his mind. He seeks balance and wholeness again.
Playing a major role in bringing Grey’s artistic vision to life was librettist Dr. Laura Tohe (Diné), a poet, editor and assistant professor at Arizona State University. Tohe helped shape the story and incorporated Navajo as well as English into the musical score. The piece will also include the digital artwork of photographer Deborah O’Grady as a visual backdrop.

“Through the multi-dimensional artistic expressions of story, voice, orchestra and visual imagery, the audience is invited into the world of Seeker, the protagonist, who returns from war and struggles to find his path toward healing and peace that the Diné call the corn pollen path way of life,” Tohe explains. “Through this unique production, grounded within the mythic world of the Diné, I hope the audience can reflect on a personal level on the destruction and costs of war on our families, communities, nation and on our spirituality—and further, how can we restore peace and harmony after times of war.”

Grey now lives in Phoenix but grew up in San Francisco. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2003 with the Kronos Quartet, and his music has been performed in Sydney, Paris, London and other cities worldwide. He served as collaborator, sound designer and soundscape engineer for John Adams’s On the Transmigration of Souls, which received the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in music and won three Grammy awards. The oratorio was specially commissioned as part of the Phoenix Symphony’s 60th-anniversary season.

The world premiere of Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio is on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m., with a repeat performance on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. Both performances will be preceded by a moderated discussion by Grey and Tohe. It will be paired with performances of another Arizona-inspired work, Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofe. Tickets are $19 to $68 and are available by calling 800/776-9080, in person at the Phoenix Symphony Box Office downtown, or online at phoenixsymphony.org. For event details, call 602/495-1117.

A series of special events leads up to the premier. Jan. 24–26, at three different venues, the symphony performs Dvorak’s New World Symphony and a selection of other compositions including Native sounds and references. Featured is flutist James Pellerite. Tickets $19-$52. Jan. 26, 2 p.m., Grey, librettist Tohe and filmmaker Larry Blackhorse Lowe (Navajo) lead a viewing and a discussion of Lowe’s notable work 5th World, set on the Navajo Reservation. Free. Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. a condensed version of Enemy Slayer for piano and chorus, followed by a discussion with Grey and Tohe. Free.

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Elsewhere

Drop by the 16th annual West Valley Invitational Native American Arts Festival, Jan. 12–13, Scout Park, Litchfield Park, AZ (just west of Phoenix). Attractions will include some 200 artists working in a variety of media, music by Brulé & AIRO (Saturday at noon), the Wilde Boys Trio featuring R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton and Will Clipman (at 2 p.m. on Sunday), Estun-Bah, Randy Kemp, Adrian Wall and Allenroy Paquin, and the Yellow Bird Dancers, plus artist demonstrations, lectures, raffles and frybread. 623/935-6384 or westvalleyarts.org
Get primed for the Super Bowl at the Arizona Indian Festival, Jan. 18–20, Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix. A unique component of the event are the seven Indian “villages” being built by members of Arizona’s River Tribes, the O’odham/Maricopa peoples, the Hopi and Zuni peoples, the Navajo tribe, Apache tribes and the Yaqui. An arts and crafts fair will host some 250 Arizona Native artists, while on stage you’ll find a variety of Arizona Native musicians performing free for the public. Rounding out the events are a food court with an emphasis on Native foods; an economic pavilion with information on tribal businesses, tourism and economic development; and a children’s activity tent. Admission is $8 adults, $5 for seniors and children ages 12–18. azindiantourism.com

Hit the highway for the Colorado Indian Market and the Texas Indian Market, Jan. 18–20 at the Denver Merchandise Mart, and March 28–30 at the Arlington Convention Center, respectively. Each show features a mix of Native, Western and wildlife artists and a slew of Native performers, including Brulé, the Ehecatl Aztec Dancers, Blues Nation, the American Indian Dance Show, Arvel Bird & One Nation, and a trio of Micki Free, Bill Miller and Shea. Hosted by actor Moses J. Brings Plenty (Hidalgo, Pirates of the Caribbean, Who Killed Crazy Horse). Admission: $10 adults, children under 13 free. indianmarket.net
Head south to the 37th annual Seminole Tribal Fair, Feb. 7–10, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL. Activities include a Native arts and crafts show with vendors from all over the nation, a rodeo, alligator wrestling, a competition powwow, exhibition dancing and drumming, and contemporary music by Robert Mirabal, Martha Redbone and Derek Miller. Free. 954/347-1838 or seminolehardrockhollywood.com

Check out the 22nd annual Tulsa Indian Arts Festival, Feb. 8–10, Expo Square, Tulsa, OK, which will include an art market with some 75 artists, an art competition of eastern Oklahoma students, music by Arvel Bird, storytellers, and demonstrations by beaders, potters and jewelers. The action kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. with an artist reception, appetizers and wine, a poster signing and juried art awards (reservations required; tickets $50). 918/749-6073 or tulsaindianartfest.com

Hop over to the 18th annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, Feb. 9–10, Heard Museum, Phoenix, when top Canadian and American Indian dancers face off in five age-group competitions. Many previous champions are expected, including Lisa Odjig, Dallas Arcand and Nakota LaRance. Admission: $10 general, $3 for children ages 4–12. 602/252-8848 or heard.org

Making a splash is the Sa’Heh’Wa’Mish Days, Feb. 15–17, Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, WA, hosted by the Squaxin Island Tribe. Members of various Coast Salish tribes will gather on Feb. 15 for dances, singing and traditional foods. On Feb. 16, the public is invited to enjoy a powwow, with drum and dance competitions, as well as an arts and crafts fair and sale of traditional foods. Ray Fryberg will serve as master of ceremonies. Also on Feb. 16 will be an awards presentation for a juried art show and sale of Salish regalia, drums, basketry, carvings and prints, overseen by Charlene Krise, director of the Squaxin Island Museum. It will be followed by an auction dinner to benefit the museum. Call 360/432-3838 for details on the powwow and tribal gathering; call 360/432-3841 for details on the juried art show and auction dinner.

Don’t miss the 4th annual Grow Hawaiian Festival, Feb. 23, Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook, Hawaii Island, HI, including a lei contest, weavers, dancers, kapa makers, demonstrations, workshops and talks, garden tours and ask-the-expert booths. Free; donations appreciated. 808/323-3318

Go west to the 24th annual Marin Show, Feb. 23–24, San Rafael, CA, which focuses on the sale of antique American Indian, Spanish Colonial, Western and Pre-Columbian art in the Marin Center. Next door, at the Embassy Suites ballroom, you’ll find a handful of contemporary Native artists, including extraordinary jeweler (and actor) Michael Horse, John Balloue, Jerry Rousseau and Niki Lee. Admission $10. 310/822-9145 or marinshow.com

Spend a day at the 14th annual Southwest Indian Art Fair, Feb. 23–24, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, where more than 200 top artists will display and sell their work. Artist demonstrations, Native foods, music and dance also will be featured. Admission: $8 adults, $3 for children ages 12–16. 520/626-8381 or statemuseum.arizona.edu

Pop by the 8th annual Mary Kawena Pukui Performing Arts Festival, Feb. 24, Bishop Museum grounds, Honolulu, Oahu, HI, to enjoy performances by storytellers and dancers from Hawaii, Massachusetts and Alaska, including Stephen Blanchett of the musical group Pamyua, Debra Dommek, Jonathan Perry, and singer and dancer Candida Rose of the Cape Verde Islands. $3 admission; free for museum members and children 3 and younger. 808/847-3511 or bishopmuseum.org


Head over to the 5th annual Hopi Art Show & Sale on the evening of Feb. 29, Hilton Garden Inn, 4000 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, a benefit event for Hopi college scholarships and general education needs. Items will include a collaborative katsina created by Clark Tenakhongva and family. 928/734-2275 or hopieducationfund.org

Spend the evening at the 15th annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, March 7, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto, hosted by actress and musician Larissa Tobacco. Jennifer Podemski will serve as the creative producer for the exciting performance segments of the show. Tickets can be ordered online at naaf.ca or by phone at 416/987-0240.