Čhaŋté Wašté Hokšíla - Lakota Lullaby - arranged by Linthicum-Blackhorse

music starts at 2:23
Čhaŋté Wašté Hokšíla
My Kind-hearted Boy
arranged by Linthicum-Blackhorse
First Nations Choral Festival © 2024
Lincoln, NE
March 5, 2024
(this performance involved 8 choirs en masse of complimentary ensemble arrangements in SA, SSA, and SATB) music starts at 2:23
This Lakota lullaby was traditionally sung by mothers towards their young boys, though the song was, and still is, sung to all children regardless of gender. Old songs are often mistaken for having “no words” because many of the ancient vocabulary were single syllables and, to the non-native speaker/singer, they sound like assorted, meaningless vowels. Reviving the meanings behind many of these songs has proven a rewarding and frustrating challenge since most living elders were persecuted for using the language or singing the songs. Now there are abundant variations on any traditional song.
The story behind this piece is one of coincidence--I was considering writing a new work using a lullaby, then there was a mass shooting on nineteen (19) younglings while they were in school. Therefore, I envisioned how I could compose something beautiful, staying true to the emotions that I am experiencing, while also preserving the innocence of the traditional melody.
The song takes the listener on a tragic journey. Beginning with a foreshadowing piano line, the audience is given a taste of the traditional melody, followed shortly thereafter with more musical complexity. The music then engages innocence and serenity, rapidly taking a dramatic turn. Soon, however, an ominous mood sets in, giving a sense of unease designed to demonstrate the anxiety and fear of that day. The ending represents the lost voices that will never be heard again. Each singer will choose when to decrescendo from singing, to whispers, and finally to silence.