...and the antelope play

My tone poem, ...and the antelope play, depicts the transformation through time of the Antelope Valley, from ancient times, to the eventual displacement of the Native American culture, to modern times. The work considers both geographical and cultural aspects in its musical portrayal of the vast and beautiful high desert of California.

The title is taken from the 19th century song Home on the Range, specifically from the line, "Where the deer and the antelope play," although you will not hear the song except in some melodic fragments. The thematic material of the music is based solely upon these fragments and word association from the song. Although well hidden, you may find the themes more readily by word association than by melodic association.

...and the antelope play is a through-composed tone poem in eight sections, played without pause, with each section bearing a descriptive verse from my poem:

...first there was wind ......morning light .........behold the valley ............and the antelope play ............the plight of the valley .........the spirit remains ......and the antelope? ...the valley home

...first there was wind - The piece begins with the sound of the warm desert wind and a lone tumbleweed blowing across the valley plain. The haunting sound of the Native American flute breaks the silence and summons forth the spirit world. ...morning light - The rays of the brilliant sun break through the sky. ...behold the valley - The expanse of the Valley is depicted by a warm and lyrical Western chorale. ...and the antelope play - The hot open plains play host to the indigenous pronghorn antelope, which frolic freely across the valley floor. ...the plight of the valley - The western expansion of the railroad and the arrival of the Spanish settlers disrupt the natural serenity of the valley and herald the demise of the antelope and the Native American tribes of the Serrano, Kitanemuk, Kawaiisu and Tatavian. ...the spirit remains - Throughout the vast change toward westernized civilization and industrialization, the Spirit World constantly remains. ...and the antelope? - Although the home to the pronghorn antelope and Native Americans has been changed forever, the valley will always hold their memory and be home to their spirit. ...the valley home - The beautiful expanse of the valley endures, with a reprise of the Western chorale. The piece concludes with the first complete statement of “Oh give me a home,” and ends on a single note, “home.”

This piece is dedicated to the Antelope Valley Unified School District Honor Band and was the winner of the 2007 CBDNA Young Band Composition Competition.

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