“In the keen sequences scored by Mr. Tate, you felt new music bonding with old images in rich, provocative and moving ways.”
Talowa' Loksi' (Turtle Songs)
for Eight Part SATB Chorus - 15'
Commissioned by Roomful of Teeth.
Premiering 2022
Talowa' Loksi' (Turtle Songs) is a work for 8-part, SATB vocal ensemble and handheld percussion. It is a 15 minute multi-movement composition in six short scute's, referring to the top sections of a turtle shell. Each scute is a modern, dynamic and theatric orchestration of a traditional Chickasaw song. They are written to be performed in any order or set of excerpts.
The turtle rattle is the percussion basis for Southeastern American Indian (Muskogean) music and culture. They create the foundational sound for all of our social and stomp dance songs.
Scute 1: Garfish Dance
Scute 2: Raccoon Dance
Scute 3: Memorial Song
Scute 4: Snake Dance
Scute 5: Double Header
Scute 6: Tick Dance
