John Scott: "Death of the Indian Nations" Excerpts (2008, Live @ Grand Rex Theater, Paris)

ABOUT THE WORK: In 2006 John Scott composed a rigorous, angular tone poem he has varyingly referred to as his "Symphony Americana", "Percussion Concerto", "Death of the Indian Nations" or, as it was finally recorded as, the "Red & White Suite", as the Jules Verve Society who commissioned the work eventually used excerpts from the piece in a 2008 documentary on the subject of the tragic outcome of european expansion upon the natives of the midwest. In any event, the 22-minute concert work depicts the life of Plains Indians prior to, during, and after the arrival of European settlers, and as one can imagine it is not an altogether happy work, with a heavy emphasis on dissonant percussive and woodwind textures. American folk tunes garishly impede upon the work as it progresses in ironically-peppy march form, depicting the inexorable advent of westward expansion. The work is not a personal favorite of mine in the canon of John's larger-scale concert works, but it has, recurring throughout and highlighted in this suite, an absolutely incredible main theme for the noble subjects of the work - a gorgeous, long-lined melody based partly upon the intervals of actual Native American music (John had similarly derived such ideas for his epic score to "Walking Thunder" 12 years prior). Voiced at the onset on a plaintive english horn, the theme is given a number of dexterous workouts by the full ensemble before reveling in one final heroic statement from the conclusion. Of particular note is the valiant high trumpet lines dancing above lyrical strings, in contrast with the percussive fury invoked elsewhere.
This recording was made as part of the Jules Verne Society's "Concert for Adventures", and was conducted by Scott himself at the Grand Prix Theater in Paris with the "Jules Verne Festival Orchestra" (presumably freelancers contracted from Paris' various orchestral groups). The recording is poorly balanced and the requisite sputtering coughs that plague such events are ubiquitous. Regardless, the music shines - another brilliant melody from a composer whose well of inspiration never seems to run dry.
The painting is by George Catlin, an American artist famous for his vivid depictions of Plains Indians' lives.
As usual I claim no ownership to any material herein whatsoever.