Description
A Richard Frazier Original – Duration: 6 min.
A highly dramatic tone poem for concert band whose opening section describes the terror of the destruction of the ancient way of life for the Oglala Sioux civilization and the fearless heroism of one of its bravest chiefs, Crazy Horse. Under the guidance of a spiritual leader, he has received visions that show the deathless unity of all creation that supersedes the constant agitation of the human drama of war and peace, life and death. The next section is a musical portrait of the playful aspect of an Oglala village. A timpani solo introduces mysterious music much like the vast darkness of the forests in the Black Hills and leads to a highly rhythmic tribal dance that recalls earlier musical material. The energy builds to a battle scene portrayed by a fugato. Solo clarinet and wood block lead to a final unison statement of the fugue subject and glorious chorale that portrays the triumph of the human spirit over the forces of worldly circumstance.
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“In the absence of an authenticated photo of the great Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, Richard Frazier’s remarkable work for band is the next best thing we have that catches the essence of the fearless and spiritual nature of this heroic Native American. The chorale ending, depicting the triumph of the human spirit over material adversity will leave the audience breathless. This piece is the perfect sound track for the building of the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota.”
– Jack Martens (retired band director, SFUSD)
–
Jack
Martens
the
absence
of
an
authenticated
photo
of
the
great
Sioux
warrior,
Crazy
Horse,
Richard
Frazier’s
remarkable
work
for
band
is
the
next
best
thing
we
have
that
catches
the
essence
of
the
fearless
and
spiritual
nature
of
this
heroic
Native
American.
The
chorale
ending,
depicting
the
triumph
of
the
human
spirit
over
material
adversity,
will
leave
the
audience
breathless.
This
piece
is
the
perfect
sound
track
for
the
building
of
the
Crazy
Horse
Memorial
in
the
Black
Hills
of
South
Dakota.”
–
Jack
Martens
the
absence
of
an
authenticated
photo
of
the
great
Sioux
warrior,
Crazy
Horse,
Richard
Frazier’s
remarkable
work
for
band
is
the
next
best
thing
we
have
that
catches
the
essence
of
the
fearless
and
spiritual
nature
of
this
heroic
Native
American.
The
chorale
ending,
depicting
the
triumph
of
the
human
spirit
over
material
adversity,
will
leave
the
audience
breathless.
This
piece
is
the
perfect
sound
track
for
the
building
of
the
Crazy
Horse
Memorial
in
the
Black
Hills
of
South
Dakota.”
–
Jack
Martens
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