The Indian Character Piece

CHARLES WAKEFIELD CADMAN (1881-1946): Idealized Indian Themes, Op. 54, HOMER GRUNN (1880-1944): Desert Suite, Op. 7, ARTHUR FARWELL (1872-1952): The Domain of Hurikan, Op. 15, AMY BEACH (1867-1944): Eskimos, Op. 64, GEORGE TEMPLETON STRONG (1856-1948): Au pays de peaux-rouges, FERRUCCIO BUSONI (1866-1924): Indianisches Tagebuch Book I.

Description: The accompanying note, while either choosing not to or not able to tell us from which Native American tribes the various themes in these works were taken, makes the good point that the authenticity of these pieces is not what we call authentic today and that they are basically Romantic European character pieces with an adulterated amount of local color. But they’re no less entertaining because of that and some will be new to your ears - especially Homer Grunn who was apparently especially drawn to the songs and chants of Native Americans of the southwestern deserts. Stephanie Bruning (piano).