The Indigenous Strings of Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate

By Leilani Polk

A Chickasaw Nation classical composer from Oklahoma, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate has dedicated his career to the development of Indigenous classical music. He’s been commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and American Composers Orchestra, among others, and has earned a range of accolades, including receiving a 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a Wise-Hinrichsen Award in Music from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2025. Tate has been programmed in our Family Concerts Series (most recently, Spirit Chief Names the Animal People). We present three of his chamber works for strings in the season’s final Octave 9 Series program, The Music of Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate.  

A Seattle Symphony chamber group — Emerson Millar and Jacqueline Audas (violins), Ursula Steele (viola) and Katherine Audas (cello) — will be joined by classically trained violinist, actor, Native storyteller and friend of Tate’s Swil Kanim (Lummi Nation), who serves as narrator in the opening and closing pieces. First, Abitahánta': The Hunter Who Was Not So Great, based on one of the Chickasaw’s many ancient legends teaching lessons about life, relationships and humility; the beginning overture is a transcription of a Warrior Dance Song that provides the basis for all musical material in the work.  

Next is Pisachi (Chickasaw for “reveal”), an homage to the American Indian Southwest inspired by Tate’s time mentoring Diné and Hopi youth and influenced by Pueblo and Hopi styles. “The spirit of Pisachi is nested in this dynamic and joyous time … Pisachi was composed to honor my Southwest Indian cousins through expressive classical repertoire.” Accompanying artwork for this piece, curated by the composer, will be projected as part of the performance.  

The evening closes with the 25-minute MoonStrike. Originally composed for the Apollo Chamber Players to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the work draws inspiration from trickster characters and competitions for lunar ownership via three diverse American Indian legends. It is bookended with an arrangement of a Calusa Corn Dance; for Southeast Indians, the Green Corn Dance took place during the fall Harvest Moon. (Friday, June 12, at 7 & 9pm, Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center)