Scenes from Dinétah: Weaving

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, I have always been fascinated by the relationship between music and weaving. 

Crafting a well-balanced work while keeping an overall vision of a piece of art are things that 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: While this piece is written for piano, we include it under the keyword "Text Painting" in relation to the piece's title, "Weaving." Listen to the Notable Passage below to hear how the composer musically interprets the title!