What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1497147
Visceral Dance Chicago April 20 | Tickets $10 David Sedaris April 25 Annie May 5-7 | 5 shows! Hadestown May 23-28 | 8 shows! Madagascar The Musical June 2-3 | 4 shows! 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 5 Media support: NWA Business Journal | KUAF KNWA | Official Kids Mag | NWA Democrat Gazette Upcoming Events SCAN for full season listing Series Sponsors: Premier Broadway Series Support: Bob & Becky Alexander Series Support: Friends of Broadway Show Sponsors: Show Underwriters: Elda & Eric Scott Todd & Melissa Simmons 6 What's up! april 16-22, 2023 Symphony Continued From Page 5 Of course, he says, "this entire project could not happen without the support of over a dozen wonderful sponsors. We know we can't mention them all, but it was initial discussions and major support from the Walter O. Caldwell Foundation and ArcBest Corporation that pushed this endeavor to fruition. "Louis Ballard is one of those wonderful composers who has a style all his own," Jeter enthuses. "One can hear influences of Stravinsky, Ravel and Copland, but he also utilizes Native American instruments, rhythms and both original and composed Native American melodies and combines them into a wonderful style. "I have to say that his style is very different from piece to piece," Jeter goes on, adding that Ballard's compositions include not only modern instruments but a number of Indigenous instruments such as an eagle bone whistle, various Indigenous drums, rattle gourds, rasp sticks and water. "He is quite a musical chameleon, which is what makes his music so special — as people will hear at the concert." Simone Ballard not only works in her grandfather's memory but knew him herself, although he passed away when she was just 13. "I remember being at camp on the Quapaw Indian Reservation during ceremonial dances with my grandfather and aunts, uncles and cousins," she says. "I think that my trips to the tribal dances when I was younger were paramount for forming my tuned ear towards live drum rhythms, Native singing, and the specific movements that go along with everything. "There really is no other way to input the entire experience without attending live, in my opinion," she adds. "Recordings are good, but they don't come close to feeling the vibrations up close from the drums and vocals." Before the Fort Smith Symphony performance, Ballard suggests turning to her website to understand the historical context of some of her grandfather's compositions. But "my grandfather wrote classical music mainly for an audience that was non- Indigenous at the time, so in general there isn't too much to 'pre-interpret.'" Ballard says she is "always aware that I come from a unique history and culture that developed separately from Europe," but working with her grandfather's legacy "marks a different era for me personally where my Native identity will be something more at the forefront — and I hope a real barrier breaker as time goes on."