TitledVoiceless Mass, the composition is not your standard liturgical piece.
For Chacon, the work also represents the idea ofhozho, acentral concept of Navajo life.
That idea ofhozhomeans maybe things lining up with other things, Chacondescribes.
And, for me, that’s what music is.
It is when you hear something line up with something else, and you want to hear that again.
Throughout Chacons body of work, he has placed emphasis on the meaning of sound and connections.
They stand in places where their tribes were violently displaced.
They’re all sounds.
But they all have other meanings, of course, Chacon explains.
You wonder, what is on those ships?
What are those ships bringing?
Where are those ships from?
How long are they going to stay?
Same with the guns.
Who’s holding the guns?
Why are they firing?
Where are they firing these weapons?
Are they weapons or are they tools?
Chacons pictorial compositions have found their way into museums, like the prestiguousWhitney Museum of American Art.
To be recognized with the Pulitzer is a complete honor,saysChacon.
It was not something I was expecting when I wrote that work.
Most recently, the composer and his work has been featured byPBS.
As for future plans, he says he hopes to write a piece for a full orchestra.
Theres no doubt that the accomplished musician will continue inventing new ways to utilize sound.
A post shared by Raven Chacon (@ravenchcn)
Voiceless Massis not your standard liturgical piece.
To be recognized with the Pulitzer is a complete honor, says Chacon.
It was not something I was expecting when I wrote that work.
He has also been able to performVoiceless Massat several other venues in North America.
