Six Epitomes for String Quartet - 13'
Commissioned by the ETHEL
Premiered October 5, 2013
Pisachi (Reveal) is composed in six epitomes (sections) and was originally commissioned to be performed within a slide show exhibit for ETHEL’s touring project entitled Documerica. For this project, Pisachi was assigned to accompany images of the American Indian Southwest. In doing so, the work draws specifically from Hopi and Pueblo Indian music, rhythms and form.
The opening viola solo is a paraphrase of a Pueblo Buffalo Dance and becomes material throughout the work. Later, the work refers to Hopi Buffalo Dance and Hopi Elk Dance music. It is the composer’s intent to honor his Southwest Indian cousins through classical repertoire.
Pisachi is the Chickasaw word for reveal and is pronounced pee-sah-chee.
Pisachi