A work about the sonic geography of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska, and about the voices of the elements. From the texture of wind, rain and melting ice, flowing water, animal cries and birdsong, emerges the sound of drums playing the pulsing 5/8 and 7/8 beats of Inupiaq Eskimo drumming. At other times, the deep whooshing of bullroarers and the ethereal voices of aeolian harps grow out of the sounds and recede again. And within this sonic space, the voices of a woman and two men talking and reciting in English, Latin, and Inupiaq—leading us toward the Eskimo shaman's song from which the piece derives its title. Commissioned by New American Radio.

In its ten years as a weekly national series, 1987-1998, New American Radio (NAR) commissioned and distributed over 300 original works: conceptual new drama, associational documentary, language explorations, sonic meditations, environmental compositions, musical explorations and works that pioneer new dimensions in acoustic space. Wave Farm is thrilled to be partnering with New American Radio to ensure these works remain available to listeners today and into the future.

New American Radio was organized by Helen Thorington, Executive Producer and Regine Beyer, Associate Producer. A special thanks to both Helen Thorington and Jo-Anne Green for their generous support and collaboration of this partnership, and their contribution to the field at large!

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