Oklahoma: ETHEL is
America’s premier postclassical string
quartet. They bring workshops, tours,
and performances to children on American
Indian reservation. They are also
involved with the Native American
Composers Apprenticeship Project.
ETHEL recently announced
the recording of a new album by 11
American Indian students composers, ages
13-19, from the Chickasaw Nation. Slated
for a summer 2010 release, the album
features modern classical works by
students of renowned composer Jerod
Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. Tate is a member
of the Chickasaw Nation and is his
tribe's official composer-in-residence.
“ETHEL
has an unbelievable ability to express
multiple styles of expression at the
drop of a hat,” Tate said. “This will be
a life-changing experience for these
young composers.”
The new album is on the
Thunderbird Records label. The project
is one of the groundbreaking initiatives
created by the Chickasaw Nation Division
of Arts and Humanities.
“We’ve been so enriched by the people,
cultures, and sounds we’ve experienced
over the years that we feel utterly
compelled to share them through music,”
explained Ralph Farris, violist for
ETHEL. “By working with young Native
composers who have written music for
string quartet, we give these children a
chance to hear their music performed by
professional musicians.”
The
11 students will participate in all
aspects of the album’s recording.
“During the recording session, the
composition students will be with me in
the control room to co-produce the
session," said Alan Bise, producer/owner
of Thunderbird Records. "That is, they
will discuss with ETHEL how they’d like
their music to be performed, and what
kind of feeling they are trying to
convey. During classical recording
sessions, we do not often get to
collaborate with living composers, so
the student’s involvement brings extra
meaning to this recording.”
Thunderbird Records will hold an artwork
contest to help determine the album’s
cover.
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