Scenes from Dinétah: Weaving
Connor CheePiece Duration: 4:05
About this Piece
Program Note: "The Navajo people are known for weaving beautiful rugs. It was said that Spider Woman taught the Navajo people how to weave, and today, they continue the tradition. For me [Connor], I have always been fascinated by the relationship between music and weaving.
Crafting a well-balanced work [is something] I can certainly relate to as a pianist and composer. Not to mention the meticulous counting involved in weaving intricate patterns, which reminds me of the care musicians must take with counting and executing complex rhythms in music.
I have no doubt that the time I spent watching my grandmother (nali) weave rugs had a strong influence on my musical studies and the discipline I would later put into my own music.
Are there any relations between weaving and music that you notice?" - Connor Chee
Text Painting: Listen to the Notable Passage below to hear how the composer musically interprets the title! (While this piece is written for piano, we include it under the keyword "Text Painting" in relation to the piece's title, "Weaving.")
Notable Passages
Description:
The composer uses arpeggios to mimic the physical motions made while weaving Navajo rugs!
As strands of yarn are woven through the lines of fabric on a loom, the notes of each harmony are played one by one, weaving up and down the keyboard in different directions!
Keywords: Arpeggio - Composition Technique , Arpeggio - Harmonic , Text Painting - Expressive Elements