Search - Grey, Hendricks, The Phoenix Symphony :: Grey: Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio

	Grey, Hendricks, The Phoenix Symphony Grey: Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio Genre: Classical The Phoenix Symphony enjoys a long — history of premièring new works that — bridge gaps between Western art music — and Native cultures. Hailed as — 'a master', Mark Grey 'is a composer as — well as a sound engineer, and w... more » « less
? Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Grey, Hendricks, The Phoenix Symphony, Christie, Piper, Gentry
Title: Grey: Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Naxos
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 3/31/2009
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 636943960424

Synopsis

Product Description

The Phoenix Symphony enjoys a long
history of premièring new works that
bridge gaps between Western art music
and Native cultures. Hailed as
'a master', Mark Grey 'is a composer as
well as a sound engineer, and what he is
up to has far-reaching implications for the
direction that classical music will take this
century' (Los Angeles Times). This
recording of Enemy Slayer: A Navajo
Oratorio is of the world première
performance of the first oratorio based on
an indigenous North American creation
story. 'Mark Grey's score is perfectly
crafted, impeccably paced, beautifully
scored' (The Arizona Republic).

CD Reviews

As one of the performers...

Saul Morse | Phoenix, AZ USA | 05/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the privilege to be one of the performers for Mark Grey's Enemy Slayer, both at the World Premiere in Phoenix and at the subsequent presentation at Chataqua in Colorado. As a performer I can say it was a challenging work, with only Ned Rorem's Pilgrim Strangers (most popularly performed by Chanticleer) as an equal in it's difficulty and emotional depth.

It is very rare to see the Navajo perspective represented in Classical performance, and the composition by Grey as well as the libretto by Laura Tohe very deeply reflect the values of the Navajo people and reflect the inner turmoil of Seeker as he returns from the war. In performance the musical score was richly accompanied by slides by Deborah O'Grady of native Arizona...adding to the extraordinary performance of Scott Hendricks.

Time will tell if the score stands the test of time, but as a performer of the piece I count myself to be richly blessed to have had the opportunity to perform this brilliant work. I certainly hope you will have the chance to experience this piece not only in the recording, but also in live performance as well."