Black Elk

with Narrator

Inspired by the book "Black Elk Speaks" by John Neihardt (an oral history of Black Elk, a Sioux medicine man or Shaman), this dramatic work for 11 percussionists culminates in narrator reciting a passage from the book.

Program Notes

Inspired by the book "Black Elk Speaks" by John Neihardt (an oral history of Black Elk, a Sioux medicine man or Shaman), this dramatic work for 11 percussionists culminates in narrator reciting a passage from the book:

"I looked up at the clouds, and two men were coming there, headfirst like arrows slanting down; and as they came, they sang a sacred song, and the thunder was like drumming. I will sing it for you. The song and the drumming were like this: "Behold, a sacred voice is calling you; all over the sky, a sacred voice is calling."

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2005
Number of Players: 11 + Narrator
Duration: 8:00
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Percussion

Instrumentation

Narrator
Marimba 1 (5-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Xylophone (High Suspended Cymbal, Chimes)
Vibraphone (Low Suspended Cymbal)
Crotales (Tambourine)
Bells (Snare Drum
Timpani (Bongos)
Percussion 1 (Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal, Slapstick, Bass Drum, Medium Tom)
Percussion 2 (2 Low Toms, Flexatone)
Percussion 3 (2 Low Toms, Ratchet, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Tenor Drum)
Percussion 4 (4 Toms, Castanets, Triangle, Frame Drum, Bass Drum)