Čhaŋte Wašte Hokšila (ċaƞt̄e waṡt̄e hok̄ṡila) Apple Valley HS, Minnesota USA-World Premiere Choir

Performance by the World Premiere choir Apple Valley High School - Valley Select Chorale.
Directed by Reid Larsen and Joel Beyer.
May 2023
Scores Available now from HL: www.halleonard...
Tribute: www.linthicumb...
Lyrics:
Ahí yé, hé yo iyé
We hé yo iyé.
Ahí yé, hé yo iyéya.
We yeló iyé.
Čhaŋté wašté hokšíla
lá kȟé ištíŋma.
Haŋhépi kiŋ wašté.
We yeló iyé.
Translation:
I have brought you here, so that I can speak to you in your language.
I am speaking to you in your language.
I have brought you here, so that you will recognize me.
I am speaking your language.
My kind-hearted boy
I beg you to fall asleep.
The Night is good.
I am speaking your language.
Notes:
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 of our living elders were persecuted for using the language or singing the songs. Now there are abundant variations on any traditional song--I was taught the Sičháŋǧu na Oglála Lakȟóta interpretations which I have used in my lyrical writing.
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. I can only speculate on the horror that must have been lingering in those children’s minds while the shooting was happening, and the bravery they exhibited throughout the one and a half (1½) hour experience.
June 5, 2022
dedication:
On May 24, 2022, nineteen (19) children and two (2) adult teachers were murdered in a senseless act of violence at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. Nearly an entire generation of children in the small town were single-handedly gunned down with an AR-15 assault rifle wielded by a disturbed 18-year-old who legally obtained all the ammunition, body armor, and rifles he used to commit his heinous act. We as a nation, as a society, and as people must do better to protect our loved ones and most vulnerable from such nonsensical violence and hatred.
This song is dedicated to the victims & survivors of this mass shooting--though nothing can give the families their babies back, may this music offer some sense of closure for the families that suffered such tragic losses.
THE VICTIMS (age)
MAKENNA LEE ELROD (10),
LAYLA SALAZAR (11),
MARANDA MATHIS (11),
NEVAEH BRAVO (10),
JOSE MANUEL FLORES JR. (10),
XAVIER LOPEZ (10),
TESS MARIE MATA (10),
ROJELIO TORRES (10),
ELIAHNA “ELLIE” AMYAH GARCIA (9),
ELIAHNA A. TORRES (10),
ANNABELL GUADALUPE RODRIGUEZ (10),
JACKIE CAZARES (9),
UZIYAH GARCIA (10),
JAYCE CARMELO LUEVANOS (10),
MAITE YULEANA RODRIGUEZ (10),
JAILAH NICOLE SILGUERO (10),
IRMA GARCIA (48),
EVA MIRELES (44),
AMERIE JO GARZA (10),
ALEXANDRIA “LEXI” ANIYAH RUBIO (10),
ALITHIA RAMIREZ (10)
AT THE TIME THIS WAS WRITTEN, THERE WERE STILL SURVIVORS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES
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