The Glimmer

New American Composers Series

Seattle Pro Musica celebrates our 50th anniversary season by looking forward to our next 50 years, even as we remember our history. We have commissioned five exciting young composers to write new works for our milestone anniversary, and will feature them in a five-concert series this season.

Featured composer: Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate

The Glimmer is the last of our New American Composers concerts, featuring composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. Tate, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, is dedicated to the development of American Indian classical composition.

For his Seattle Pro Musica commissioned work, Jerod has set the poem The Glimmer by Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest.

Sharing about the cultural influences of his new work, he says, “Most of my commissioned works focus on tribal culture directly from the land of the commissioner. It is my way of helping the performers and public become closer to their tribal neighbors. The Glimmer deeply echoes the ethos of Lummi and local Salish culture. Out of respect, there is not a direct quote of specific melodies; however, it is greatly influenced by the regional paddle songs. This poem also speaks a language evocative of the sea and it is my hope that the listener and performers resonate with the gestures in this work.”

Jerod Tate, Rena Priest, and SPM Board President Wes Kim will have a pre-concert conversation and Q&A in advance of the performance.

Program notes, texts, and translations

Saturday, March 25, 2023 - 7:30 pm
in person at Seattle First Baptist Church, Seattle, WA; pre-concert conversation at 7pm

2022-23 season performances will also be livestreamed for free; donations will be gratefully accepted.

Special thanks to our season and program sponsors for The Glimmer:

Listen to select excerpts from the program:

Visions of a Child by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, as sung by NOTUS at Indiana University

We Are the Storm by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, as sung by Seattle Pro Musica (virtually)

The Parting Glass (traditional Irish folk song), as sung by Tourist Walk at St. John’s College

Accessibility at our venues:

Seattle First Baptist Church is accessible for those with mobility issues - they may enter via the glass doors on Harvard (between Seneca and Spring) to use the elevator; there is also a passenger drop-off zone located just outside these doors. Once the choir has completed warmups in the sanctuary, the ramp from the parking lot on Seneca and Boylston may be used by any who need it and have tickets in hand.