While the world was celebrating a new “idol”, and an Olympic gymnast danced off with the coveted mirror ball trophy, a major event was taking shape and happening in the quiet hamlet of Flandreau, South Dakota.
The Lakota Music Project, a collaboration of music and spirit between the South Dakota Chamber Orchestra (members of the SD Symphony), the Porcupine Singers of Pine Ridge, SD (keepers of a traditional music legacy), and yours truly, Robert Moore, raised the roof of the historic Crystal Theatre in downtown Flandreau.
Not one, but TWO WORLD PREMIERES occurred last night. The concert, one of the best I have ever heard or been privileged to participate in, opened with the exploration of musical themes around love, war or battle, passing and mourning, and finally celebration. I was able to warble a couple of songs in the mix, but the themes that cross cultural, social and economic barriers were the hits! The description and lead-ins to the themes really brought the musical pieces by the “western” and Lakota traditional music to life and home!
The second half of the concert featured two new works set by accomplished composers, the first, “Desert Wind” took my spirit soaring over the wind swept south west of the United States - I could almost feel the desert wind in the theater. The closing piece returned me home to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The piece, Black Hills Olowan - which means black hills song - was filled with every possible image the history and life of the Black Hills means to the Lakota. Who knew such incredible music could make me feel so connected to a place - mentally and spiritually. More on the composers of these two masterpiece works later in this blog.
If you are reading this, you have to do all that you can to get to the Multi-cultural center in Sioux Falls tonight (Thursday) or to Mission on Friday, Pine Ridge on Sat or Rapid City on Sunday afternoon! Don’t miss this opportunity to have music lift your spirit and vision - Maestro Delta David Gier, Barry LeBeau and Dr. Ronnie Thiez are the minds behind the Lakota Music Project - its full results yet to be seen, but off to a great start to bring some folks together throughout South Dakota through music that may not have ever joined together for an evening of anything!
American Idols and dancing stars? Who needs em when you have the great audiences and musicians of South Dakota! Flandreau, you are the Idol of the day!
By Robert Moore
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