Harsch Sounds: "Montana Soundscapes"

The 19 selections contained in Montana Soundscapes include music that was written or adapted for three different projects. What follows are essentially the liner notes from the CD booklet. Click on highlighted titles to hear an excerpt (mp3).

Story Of A River: The Clark Fork

Eyes Of Amber, Part 1 was composed as a birthday present for Jeanne Ann Keith in June 1990, and later used by videographer Blue Tanttari in Story Of A River, an educational video she produced for the Missoula Co. Conservation District. The opening rubato section was also used in the T.I.S. Yellowstone TourGuide.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
This audio guided tour of the battlefield was produced by Joe Mussulman in 1995 for Tour Information Systems. Writing music to accompany the scripts was a great learning experience. If you ever find yourself in Eastern Montana, drop by the Battlefield, check out the TourGuide program and hear the music in context. Until then, visit your local library or bookstore to learn more. Killing Custer: The Battle of the Little Big Horn and the Fate of the Plains Indians by James Welch & Paul Stekler taught me a lot; read a review of the book here. You could also enter some of the names below in your favorite Search Engine, or visit the National Park Service’s website for the Battlefield Monument: www.nps.gov/libi/.

Respect The Spirit sets a solemn mood for the Monument and introduces the participants in the battle: the Seventh Cavalry, led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, and members of the Cheyenne and Lakota (Sioux) nations, whose leaders included Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Listen for the bugle playing To The Colors and the first of many appearances of the Seventh Cavalry’s theme song, Garryowen.
Two Days In June, 1876 briefly recounts the battle's three main skirmishes. The opening chorale-like section was originally the end of the piece, but was re-placed with the re-worked close based on Taps and Elizabeth "Libby" Custer’s favorite hymn, Nearer My God To Thee. Garryowen makes another appearance near the end of the sample.
Peji S’la (Selena) . . . Pronounced Peh-zhee Shlah, the phrase means "Greasy Grass" in Lakota. Rolling hills of green rippling in the breeze which wafts flute-like across the river reeds… distant thunder heralds a soft, summer rain…. Before the battle, this was a peaceful patch of prairie where Sitting Bull had gathered as many as 8,000 men, women and children for one last summer of "the old ways."
The Battle Suite takes a detailed look at the action from Cavalry and Indian perspectives, beginning with Custer’s Decision to attack. Some highlights to listen for:
Capt. Weir tries but fails to aid Custer (trombone solo in Clouds of Confusion). A dialog between trumpet and French horn underscores bugler John Martini’s final meeting with Boston Custer, while young Kate Bighead watches mounted warriors charge through the Cheyenne camp (Divided Forces). Lt. Calhoun covers Capt. Yates’ retreat from Gall’s Hunkpapas (Calhoun Hill). Chaos ensues as Lame White Man’s Cheyennes and Crazy Horse’s Oglalas hit Battle Ridge. The aftermath is summed up with a minor-key Garryowen as The Dust Settles. . .Into History.

Yellowstone National Park
Another T.I.S. TourGuide produced by Joe Mussulman, this one from 1993. It's a blend of historical information, nature documentaries, and entertainment - including some tall tales. For more information on Yellowstone, visit www.nps.gov/yell.

City Of Wings contains musical impressions of some of Yellowstone’s birds, including the Western Meadowlark, Dark-eyed Junco, Mountain Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker, Sandhill Crane, and American Dipper (Water Ousel).
Flight Of The Osprey began in 1992 as a sketch for another Blue Tantarri water quality documentary. It took it’s original title, The Seamist from - believe it or not - a car paint color: seamist green. This tune may yet be expanded to tell the epic voyage of the vessel Seamist.
Winter Spas explores the beauty and danger of winter in the Park. The thermal springs provide warmth, but not without cost. Plush coverings of snow make food scarce, and a thin layer of ice may be a trap-door to a cauldron of boiling water.
A Medley Of Wildflowers began with Joe’s suggestion of a theme from Gustav Mahler’s "Titan" Symphony No. 1. I thought Ludwig van Beethoven’s "Pastoral" Symphony No. 6 would be nice, too. So I used both, plus a touch of Piotr Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers, and a bit of his Piano Concerto No. 1 snuck in.
Bear-back Ride is fun cartoon music to accompany an old prospector’s yarn about his wild ride atop an angry grizzly (don’t try this at home). My bluegrass variation of The Bear Went Over The Mountain picked up a bit of Skip To My Lou along the way.
The Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone River, with its variety of colors and textures, has hiking trails and scenic viewpoints for those who wish to experience its many wonders from different perspectives.
Journey Through The Geyser follows rainwater down through the soil to underground pools, where heat and pressure force it to rise again and erupt in the spectacular plume of a geyser.
Dinner Music For A Pack Of Peckish Predators (a nod to Raymond Scott & Carl Stalling) takes the form of a radio melodrama score. Listen for hints of Frank Churchill’s Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf? and Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter And The Wolf.
Can’t sleep? Try counting years instead of sheep and you may gain some insight into Earth’s Geologic Timeline. Start with a nice, hot bowl of primordial soup and soon you’ll be flying to the moon in the Dreamland Arcade. Of course, a lot happens along the way, illustrated by snippets & variations on many familiar themes - 19 more or less. How many can you pick out?
The sample mp3 has 3 musical references, 1 sizable quote and 2 oblique hints at themes. If you email me with the title and composer of at least 2 of the 3, I'll send you an autographed CD.
How To Watch A Waterfall: Follow a single leaf swirling down the river. Watch as it breaks away from the cascade and flutters free until the river rushes up to recapture it. Then step back and admire the total grandeur of the falls.

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