b"Program NotesJames Lee III (b. 1975)American Composed 2019Composer's Note:American is my response to Dvoks New World Symphony and partially inspired by various representative paintings of indigenous Americans from the eighteenth century. The work opens with imaginary evocative scenes of Pre-Colombian America. This music evokes imagery of a couple of definitions of the Anishinaabeg/Anishinaabe Native American Indians from Michigan. There is a definition of the name, which is Beings Made Out of Nothing, People created by divine breath, and People from whence lowered. From this last definition I have drawn inspiration from the indigenous tribes particularly on the East coast and Southern United States, especially the Shinnecock, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Wampanoag, and Yamasee Indians. The orchestral texture continues to become denser and grow in energy until the good humans (another definition) are created to full form and stature. Throughout the initial part of the work, the Swing down, swing low theme from Dvoks New World Symphony can be heard quoted. This appears in various forms throughout the composition. The most prominent element of this work is a four-note motive A-MER-I-CAN that personifies the aforementioned paintings of indigenous Americans from the eighteenth century. As the music progresses, there is a digression to Mesoamerica where the ancient ballgame Ulama was played in Mexico and in what would now be known as the state of Arizona. The music depicts the simple fun of the game, but also conveys the brutal aspects of a game with a hard rubber ball that many times provoked injury and unfortunately, the losing team would also be killed in a ritual sacrifice. The music that conveys the ritualistic human sacrifice grows more frantic as if to suggest a presentiment of a foreboding imminent future. Crashing dissonant chords follow, which represent 1492 and an American continent that would forever be changed. The softly subdued strings serve as a background for the mournful and soulful solo double reed woodwind instruments of princetonsymphony.org/ 13/ princetonfestival.org"