Louis Wayne Ballard (1931–2007) – also known as “Honganozhe”, which means “Stands with Eagles” in the Quapaw language – was the first indigenous North American composer of art music, and his extensive knowledge of the music, dance and mythology of this culture informed his compositions. Ballard’s style was eclectic, embracing tonal and twelve-tone elements, and the selected pieces presented here reflect the unique variety of his achievement. This album of world-premiere recordings features his third ballet, The Four Moons, which embodies a rich cache of classic dances, and the Fantasy Aborigine no.3 ‘Kokopelli’ with its battery of unique percussive instruments.

Conductor John Jeter and the Fort Smith Symphony have recorded important American works together including Florence Price’s symphonies on 8559827, a Fanfare ‘Want List’ and MusicWeb International ‘Recommended’ release: ‘John Jeter and his Fort Smith Symphony give these two works splendid readings...’ (Fanfare).

They have also recorded the five symphonies of William Grant Still. Fanfare commented on no.1 (8559174) that ‘these performances from the Fort Smith Symphony are excellent, committed, and excellently prepared under John Jeter’s direction...’ Still’s Symphonies nos. 2 and 3 can be heard on 8559676, which is a Grammy Nominee disc.

Jeter directs the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen on their performance of Price’s Songs of the Oak and concert overtures on 8559920, which was a Sunday Times ‘Album of the Week’: ‘All the performances are consistently fine, and the recorded sound is first-rate. This is a major addition to Price’s burgeoning discography, and the pair of oak-themed tone poems in particular reveals a fascinating new facet of this composer’s work’ (Gramophone).