Chen, Yi: Totem Poles

Chen Yi describes her dramatic study in the organ’s sonorities: “From the bronze drum set on top of the totem pole, I imagine that our ancestors played the powerful low percussion instrument, to unify the rhythm in their group dance; from the delicate and magical decorations carved on the drum and the pole, I imagine that the beauty of the totem poles is presented in multilayers with various timbres from different manuals (keyboards) and pedals, and the ineffable universe is harmonized in the powerful and brilliant grand chords fully sounded from the organ.” The publication includes registrations, fingerings, and pedaling provided by James Higdon. TOTEM POLES was commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for its 2018 biennial national convention.