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Sk’elep Program Notes



Sk’elep is an alternate name for Coyote in the Secwepemc or Shuswap language group, a tribal language spoken in the Canadian province of British Columbia. In Native American mythology, a coyote is a trickster god and is generally benevolent. The coyote is highly respected for its cleverness and its will to survive.

This work follows a sonic journey through a collection of landscapes. The first is a cityscape to acknowledge the presence of coyote in our modern cities. The work then transforms to a rural environment reflecting the coyote’s original habitat. From there, the piece evolves into a mystical setting reflecting on the spiritual connection that the coyote symbolizes in Native American Culture.

Realized in the University of Illinois Experimental Music Studios.