To Awaken the Sun

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UCO Cantilena Women's Choir
Darla Eshelman, Conductor
Candace Fish, Piano
Tess Remy-Schumacher, Cello

Jerod Tate's Taloowa' Chipota (Children's Songs) appears on this album.

Taloowa’ Chipota is a work composed, originally, for middle school aged chorus. The songs are reminiscent of traditional stomp dancing and are based on old Chickasaw melodies. Stomp dances begin at dusk and end at dawn. The first movement depicts the beginning sunlight of the morning. The second movement is full of abstracted textures emulating the shell shaking in stomp dances. The vocables have no translated meaning and are pronounced as in Einglish.

I. SUNRISE
Text by Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate

I see a light in the distance... Who is my new friend?
He is whispering in my hear, Gently talking to my heart.
Look, the sun is calling to us! He is painting the sky!
Now, our mothers will dance.

SUNRISE (HASHIAT KOCHCHA)
Translation by Joshua Hinson

I see a light in the distance...
Misha pílla aashoppala' písli....
(over there) (a light) (I see)
Who is my new friend?
Hatahoot ankána' himitta'?
(who) (my friend) (new)
He is whispering in my ear,
Sahaksibisha milínkaha chokkilimaat anompohóli,
(my ear) (is close to) (quietly) (talking to)
Gently talking to my heart.
Sachonkasha achokmalicho’sit imanompoli.
(my heart) (gently) (talking to)
Look, the sun is calling to us!
Pisa'! Hashiat powaháa!
(look) (the sun) (calling to us)
He is painting the sky!
Shotiha ahámbi!
(the sky) (he is painting)
Now, our mothers will dance.
Himmaka' poshki' alhihaat hilha'chi.
(now) (our mothers) (they) (dance)