Mark Grey, the composer, made his Carnegie Hall debut as a composer with Kronos Quartet in 2003 and was the first sound designer to work for the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The creators of "Enemy Slayer," Mark Grey, Laura Tohe (librettist), and Deborah O'Grady (photographer), intended the oratorio to bridge the Navajo and non-Navajo worlds.
Recording & Production
Meyer Sound, a manufacturer of electroacoustic systems, sponsored this recording and used their in-house team and facilities to ensure a high technical standard.
Historical Context
The oratorio's narrative is inspired by the Navajo understanding that war injures everyone it touches, a concept reflected in the ancient Navajo healing ceremony called Anaa'jí (Enemy Way).
Cultural Impact
The "Music Alive!" residency program, which supported the creation of this oratorio, aimed to explore indigenous American culture and bring alternative cultural beliefs into a European classical music format.
Composition History
Mark Grey's "Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio" is the first oratorio ever based on an indigenous creation story, rather than the Bible.
Recording & Production
This recording of "Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio" captures the world premiere performance, which featured a chorus of 140 singers, a full symphony orchestra, baritone soloist Scott Hendricks, and projected Southwest landscape photography by Deborah O'Grady.
