Nancy Ives : The Spirit of the Columbia (World Premiere, PYCO)

05.05.2024 - In a special performance of works commissioned for PYP's ensembles, the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra, Larry Johnson, Conductor, presents the world premiere of Nancy Ives’ The Spirit of the Columbia.
The Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra (PYCO) is one of two symphony orchestras in the PYP program. It was founded in the 1930s as the Preparatory Orchestra.
Special guests are Pacific Northwest tribal drum group Four Directions and lead singer Harold Paul (Nez Perce).
From the composer: “When PYCO conductor Larry Johnson approached me about building on my previous collaborative work with Ed Edmo (Shoshone/Bannock) and Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) to write a new piece for PYP's 100th anniversary celebration, I was deeply honored, and truly inspired by his sincere desire to pay homage to the First Peoples of our region,” said Ives. “The creation of this orchestral tone poem, which recounts the recent history of Celilo Falls, came fully into focus for me through discussions with Harold Paul, who gave me the name by telling us about the spiritual importance of the water and the fish, saying “The People are the spirit of the Columbia.”