The Other Side of the World (2004) for flute and tape
music by Cindy Cox, text by John Campion

The Other Side of the World is a meditation on loss. In this work for flute and tape, I use three poems by John Campion which address the conquest of Native American culture by Europeans, and its resulting ecological devastation. The first poem speaks of the destruction of salmon, echoed throughout by sounds suggesting the wind and sea. The flute embodies the shaman, drawing the listener into a mournful ritual of remembrance. The poet is the speaker on the tape; he is recorded in several different modes which reflect different levels of consciousness. Transformations of horn, trombone, and flute samples create the wash of wind and water.

This work was commissioned by Nina Assimakopoulos for the “Laurels”project, and is dedicated to her.

Here

salmon ran full and red
and we ate together
till our bellies sang.
Then the white
brought his money
and many other things.

Now
we live on stamps
and must increase the dosage
as their doctors say.

But nothing
can rid us of the disease
or call the fish
to return

from the Other Side of the World.

Before
did Shaman become Jaguar
black flashing through.
Before
the wash was pure
brimming silver with fish.

Two year we see new stars moving.
Two year a road
learn measles & flu
hear explosions
along the line—
fish die
Jaguar skulk away.

Shaman sickens.
No one gathers medicine.

We are not afraid.
If settlers come
we will kill them with our blowguns
and our lances.

During the moon of popping trees
crazy wisdom
drew the illusory man
into a very red cloud.

Every thing is made of shadows.
Though he walk over dead soldiers
to the top
and take a million pictures,
Custer will never be real.

I throw dust upon the body
and dream myself into the world.
The stone behind my ear keeps me real.
But I will never give my picture
to the likes of you.

Composers
Cindy Cox
Brief Description
The Other Side of the World (2004) for flute and tape, 5' music by Cindy Cox, text by John Campion The Other Side of the World is a meditation on loss. In this work for flute and tape, I use three poems by John Campion which address the conquest of Native American culture by Europeans, and its resulting ecological devastation. The first poem speaks of the destruction of salmon, echoed throughout by sounds suggesting the wind and sea. The flute embodies the shaman, drawing the listener into a mournful ritual of remembrance. The poet is the speaker on the tape; he is recorded in several different modes which reflect different levels of consciousness. Transformations of horn, trombone, and flute samples create the wash of wind and water. This work was commissioned by Nina Assimakopoulos for the “Laurels”project, and is dedicated to her.
Collaborators
John Campion