KATSISTA - Parts & Score

Grade 2
 
Duration 3:10
 
The tribes of the Iroquois' League of the Six Nations inhabit upstate New York. They have been united for centuries in the celebration of great combined festivals which include ceremonies that address the spiritual and physical lives of the tribes. These ceremonies involve drum dances, feather dances, and chants. A rite of the Midwinter Festival incorporates the extinguishing of the old household fires, the stirring of ashes, and the rekindling of new fires. The word "katsista" literally means "fire" in the Iroquois language.
 
Iroquois music is characterized by plaintive melodies and frequent use of flutes. Percussion instruments such as rawhide
and wooden water drums, rattles, and ankle bells are predominant.
 
While sitting around the fireplace with my family, I imagined these Iroquois ceremonies and was inspired to write Katsista. The large percussion section imitates the instruments the Iroquois would use in their ceremonies. The melody, while not authentic, does imitate native-American songs in its simplicity, inflection and quiet beginning.
 
Katsista must be performed very musically. Intonation on the open fifths and careful attention to articulation are crucial. The percussion section should never overpower the refined balance of the fire dance. The entire piece, including the stronger sections, should be performed with delicate intensity.
 
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