When We Sing to the Water, the Water Can Hear Us (Band Gr. 3.5)

This work, not a symphonic poem, has to be heard from the point of view of the Klamath tribe (native Americans in Oregon, near Mount Mazama), which lived the eruption and collapse of Mazama mountain and volcano, about 8000 years ago.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: N/A
Level: 3.5 | Duration: 6:15

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (11"x17" spiral bound)

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe (optional)
Bassoon (optional)
B-flat Solo Clarinet (one player)
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium B.C.
B-flat Euphonium T.C.
Tuba
String Bass (optional)

Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: 2 Low Toms, Guiro, Large Bucket filled with Water
Percussion 2: Rainstick, Ankle Bells, Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal, Large Bucket filled with Water
Percussion 3: 2 Low Toms, Large Bucket filled with Water

Program Notes
This work, not a symphonic poem, has to be heard from the point of view of the Klamath tribe (native Americans in Oregon, near Mount Mazama), which lived the eruption and collapse of Mazama mountain and volcano, about 8000 years ago. Then has been told the legend of Llao, god of the underworld, who saw a beautiful klamath woman, daughter of an klamath chief, and became extremely angry when she refused his immortality offering in exchange of her fidelity. He came out of the mount to curse the indians with fire that rained down on them. Skell, god of skies, tried to defend them. A ferocious fight started between the gods. While the earth shook and rocks fell form the sky, two men sacrificed themselves jumping into the pit of forming crater. Skell could finally defeat Llao, and force him to fall under the collapse of the mountain. Rains filled the large hole left by the collapse of Mount Mazama, creating the famous Crater Lake. Maxime Aulio has been inspired by numerous poems and pieces of music from the Klamaths, to create that sort of hymn to nature, and especially to rivers, very important in klamath’s songs. The work is also a sequel to « Mazama » by John Chattaway, for wind band as well, which was very popular in the 90’s.