<![CDATA[AMERICAN INDIAN BAND MUSIC - AIBM Blog]]>Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:01:03 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS audio online]]>Fri, 08 May 2015 18:10:25 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/made-by-american-indians-audio-onlineThe world premiere of "Made By American Indians" is available for listening online. It was premiered by Hannaford Street Silver Band on 15 February, 2015, under the baton of Alain Trudel, in Toronto Canada. The composition for british style brass band is my musical response to Joan Tower's wonderful "Made In America." If you wish, you may a listen HERE and read the program notes below — Brent

Program Notes

MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS is a new work for brass band celebrating the prominence of our Indigenous People on the founding and sustaining of America. After hearing of the wonderful success of Joan Tower’s “Made in America,” a work commissioned and performed by a large consortium of orchestras around the country, it became apparent that a similar work might be created specifically for American Indians. The title of Tower’s work is a clever play on words describing at once the vision of the work as being an outgrowth of American sentiment, but also alluding to the tactile label of things manufactured in America. Both the inspirational idea of Tower’s work and the final work itself effectuate this dual meaning exactly.

America was founded on a framework literally borrowed from the Iroquois confederacy, founded on Native soil, founded with Native resources, and even founded with Native assistance in many cases. MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS honors the unsung contributions and extreme sacrifices of the American Indians to America. Benjamin Franklin championed the Iroquois “Great Law of Peace” as the illustrious model for creating the Constitution of the United States. Franklin recognized that the Iroquois constitution guaranteed both rights of freedom and rights of expression within a unified nation state unlike any European model.

The Great Law specifically outlined the concept of a two-house legislature within a national government, combined with a union of individual states each operating independently. The Iroquois model specified a commander-in-chief who delivers a ‘state of the union’ address, and fellow legislators are implored to remain quiet while specific legislators are addressing the chamber, unlike the practice in Britain. One significant difference from the US Constitution however is that the Great Law included women as governors and legislators, as the indigenous nations were matriarchal.

The Iroquois met with the founding fathers in 1744, where Canassatego, an Iroquois sachem, encouraged the founders to adopt a similar organization modeled on the Iroquois confederacy. The oration was later published by Franklin:

“Our wise forefathers established a union and amity between the Five Nations. This has made us formidable. This has given us great weight and authority with our neighboring Nations. We are a powerful Confederacy and by your observing the same methods our wise forefathers have taken you will acquire much strength and power; therefore, whatever befalls you, do not fall out with one another” (Canassatego, 1744).

While MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS does not quote Iroquois songs nor any American Indian songs directly, it does present an original and overarching Native theme that is developed for brass band. As a soaring melody, the theme proudly rides atop brass and percussion; but as an undercurrent, the theme appears and reappears in fragments all along the way. MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS portrays the emotions and sensibilities of contemporary American Indians in both rural and urban settings. One can readily hear the resounding complexity of the “City Indian” as well as the more pastoral life of the reservation.

There were early American Indian brass bands dating back as far as the Carlisle Indian School, and much American music has been performed by these Indian bands. A continuation of this legacy, MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS was composed with the intent of bringing an American Indian perspective to schools and audiences across the United States.

Finally, in comparison to Joan Tower’s achievement, MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS incorporates a similar play on words, as there exists a bona fide certification for marketing artwork and objects created by America’s Indigenous citizens: “Made by American Indians.” It’s even an official trademark of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, under the U.S. Department of the Interior. This new work for concert band also fulfills the dual meaning of MADE BY AMERICAN INDIANS, in both idea and actuality. The idea of the work celebrates America’s birth from the seeds of American Indian thought exemplified in the Great Law of Peace, and is, in the same breath, the literal work of an American Indian composer.

]]><![CDATA[Feb 15, "Made By American Indians" premiered in Canada!]]>Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:34:23 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/feb-15-made-by-american-indians-premiered-in-canadaOn Feb 15, the spectacular Hannaford Street Silver Band premiered Made By American Indians on a program entitled "Drumming the Heartbeat," a show curated by composer Barbara Croall. The work was originally composed on a whim back in 2009, in response to a Joan Tower work, but the performance of this newer version for "british style" brass band (2015) was the world premiere of this very challenging work. I've not been updating my blog, which is why I'm a day late (and a dollar short?) on getting this concert announced. For those who attended, I hope it was enjoyable! If any reviews pop up, I'll be sure to pass them along! Thank you to HSSB for your fine work, and to the show's curator Barbara Croall for her kind invitation to participate on the performance!]]><![CDATA[Photos & Videos from the Northfield H.S. Band Concert!]]>Sat, 02 Nov 2013 19:28:56 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/photos-videos-from-the-northfield-hs-band-concertPhotos and video are now posted on the Media Gallery page of this site, of the Northfield High School Band Concert, presented in Northfield, MN, 2013. Both "Indian Story Time" and "Indian Treaty Time" were performed by the bands, to rousing applause; the students did a fantastic job. Also performing was the singing group (drum group) "Hoka He" from the Minneapolis Indian Center, and Windy Downwind performed on Native American flute. The M.C. was Dave Larsen, and the entire event was designed to feature American Indian culture in the band concert, with special guests. The audience responded very positively to the experience, and I also spoke about the new band compositions before and after the performances. Congratulations to Northfield H.S. bands, Mary Williams the director, and the all the students and families that made this event wonderful! To see photos and video, GO HERE]]><![CDATA[Northfield plays Indian Story & Treaty Time!]]>Sun, 27 Oct 2013 02:50:37 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/northfield-plays-indian-story-treaty-timeOctober 28, 2013 — Indian Story Time and Indian Treaty Time will be performed by the 8th Grade Band and Symphonic Band, respectively, at the 33rd Annual Northfield District Band Concert, 7 PM, in the Northfield High School Gym.
For more information, contact:
Mary Williams
Northfield High School Bands
1400 Division St-S
Northfield, MN 55057
505-645-3403]]><![CDATA[Hear "Indian Story Time" & "Indian Treaty Time"]]>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:09:37 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/hear-indian-story-time-indian-treaty-timeAudio from the recent MN State Honors Band concert is now available. You can of course order an audio CD of the entire concert from Westmark Productions. Audio of "Indian Story Time" and "Indian Treaty Time" have been provided by Doug Geston of Westmark, and I thank you kindly! If you'd like to check out the new recordings, here's the audio link: /audio.html]]><![CDATA[MN State Honors Band photos!]]>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:47:04 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/mn-state-honors-band-photosCheck out a few photos from the 2013 Minnesota State Honors Band Concert! http://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/photo-gallery.html
]]><![CDATA[MBDA State Honors Band]]>Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:26:25 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/mbda-state-honors-bandOn 2 PM on April 21st, 2013, in Chanhassen, MN, the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) will host its state honors band performances. Featured this year will be "Indian Story Time" and "Indian Treaty Time." If you're around this area, please check it out! Contact the MBDA for more details, at http://www.mbda.org/]]><![CDATA[Another photo from MMEA conference, Feb 2013]]>Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:07:11 GMThttps://www.americanindianbandmusic.com/aibm-blog/another-photo-from-mmea-conference-feb-2013
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Bruce Olson, Steve Boulka, and composer Brent Michael Davids presented a workshop "Meeting the Native American Standards in Secondary Band" for the 2013 Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference on February 15th. The workshop covered the 2 new works commissioned by the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) called "Indian Story Time" and "Indian Treaty Time." Steve Boulka presented the curriculum materials, Brent Michael Davids presented cultural information and the inspiration for the works, and Bruce Olson conducted the Blaine HS Concert band as they performed the new works. The session was sponsored by the MBDA, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The new works will become available in mid April from the composer, and MBDA members get a significant discount!
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