Haŋbleble - As in a Dream - by Linthicum-Blackhorse

Haƞbleble
As in a Dream
(SSAATTBB a capella)
by Linthicum-Blackhorse
First Nations Choral Festival © 2024
Lincoln, NE
March 5, 2024
by William Linthicum-Blackhorse is a musical realization of the composer’s spiritual experience prior to his first Sundance ceremony with his family on the Siċaƞġu reservation. Beginning with the Inip̄i (purification) ceremony you will hear the steam from water placed on the rocks within the sweat-lodge, followed by the ceremonial song 0:09 Ṫat̄uye T̄op̄a (four directions). The composer made his first Ċaƞnuƞp̄a (sacred pipe) to use for this ceremony; the traditional song 1:14 Ċaƞnuƞp̄a waƞ Nic̄aup̄e lo (a pipe is being brought to you) is arranged to honor that pipe.
Once out “on the hill,” the ceremony is solitary and the quester is left alone in a sacred space for up to four days and nights with no food or water, standing and praying for a vision; the ceremonial 2:37 At̄e Nawajiƞ yelo (father, I am standing) begins, the winds blow, and the desperation builds as you wait for the spirits to talk to you until finally…they speak. As soon as it began, the ceremony is now over and you find yourself back in the Inip̄i lodge with everyone who was supporting you throughout the four days and nights. The final song is 5:01 Ṫuƞk̄aƞ Uƞṡiuƞlap̄i (spirits, have pity on us) which closes the traditional ceremony.
Lak̇ot̄a Iyap̄i:
Ċaƞnuƞp̄a waƞ nic̄aup̄e lo.
T̄aƞyaƞ yuza yo.
Ognaṡ mayagnaye k̄ilo,
he wak̇aƞyaƞ iwaye lo.
At̄e (Wioḣp̄eyat̄a, Waziyat̄a,
Wiohiƞyaƞp̄at̄a, It̄ok̄aġat̄a)
nawajiƞ yelo.
Waƞmayaƞk̄a yo.
It̄e Oṫat̄eya.
Nawajiƞ yelo.
E oiye yo.
He mit̄ak̄uye ob
wani k̄t̄a ċa
lena ċic’u welo.
English:
A pipe is being brought to you.
Hold it properly.
I warn that you might doubt me,
even though I speak in a sacred manner.
Father (to the West, North, East, South)
I am standing.
Behold me.
The wind is blowing in my face.
I am standing.
I use these words.
Being here with my relatives
gives me life, and that is why
I give you these offerings.
World Premiere at the First Nations Choral Festival in Lincoln, NE.
March 5, 2024
Commissioned by Mary Young, doctoral condidate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Premiere Choir: University of Nebraska-Lincoln University Singers and Chamber Singers