Classical Revival Unleashed!

Announcing the first all-Ballard classical music recording released this past November 10th worldwide on Naxos. This recording is a long-time coming for both Louis W. Ballard music fans and the classical music world as a whole. Ballard remains the first and one of the only widely accomplished Native American classical music composers that the US has ever produced. He was prolific in both classical music scores and educational materials that gained international traction.

He is known for giving a voice to dozens of Native American tribes in the U.S. and not just the Quapaw tribe that he originates from. The works featured on this unique recording demonstrate that perfectly. The Four Moons was a commissioned ballet piece written for four outstanding Native American ballerinas of Oklahoman descent in the 1960’s. Devil’s Promenade refers to the location near Quapaw / Miami, Oklahoma where he was born in 1931. It is so named because people have reportedly been spotting a “spooklight” there at night for a century, an unexplained visual phenomenon that continues to this day.

‘Kokopelli’ is a well-known figure in the American southwest as a fertility and trickster god. He is also often associated with music. Europeans were first introduced to this figure by the Hopi tribe. Images of him can be found on pottery as early as 750 AD produced by the ancient Hohokam peoples. Some speculate that the characteristic “hump” on Kokopelli’s back is from carrying goods as a trader. Ballard lived for decades in New Mexico and was inspired by local tribes there through attending their ceremonial dances.

Scenes from an Indian Life expands on Ballard’s exposure in Santa Fe, New Mexico during the 1960’s and takes on a satirical note about how Native American life in the past was usually depicted. It incorporates traditional rhythms from the Pueblo tribe. More information on the pieces chosen from a member of the symphony who played them can be found here. We thank you for listening this year!

Official press release from Naxos found here.