Ascencion

And now for something completely different. Imagine working on a project for twenty years sparked by a photograph - marked by decades of research, obstacles, surprising discoveries, and triumphs - all culminating in the world premiere of a dramatic opera about a historic, wise Native American grandmother:  Ascencion Solorsano de Cervantes (1854-1930) of the Amah-Mutsun tribe of San Juan Bautista, California. A woman whose secrets, customs, ancient language, and teachings were revered by her tribe but would have been lost forever had it not been for the foresight of one Smithsonian ethnologist, John Peabody Harrington, to interview her before her death, and the dream of one opera singer, Helene Joseph-Weil, to bring her story back to life.

Why I am writing about this on Heart of Green?  The Native Americans teach us about the sacredness of the land, the animals, the mountains, the planet on which we reside. They lived in harmony with nature and understood its ebbs and flows intricately. When the sun sets and the sky turns a brilliant color of orange, the Native Americans believe that their ancestors are smiling down at them. Now that is living. Participating in a Medicine Wheel ceremony once changed my life and gave me a new understanding of balance. And Helene Joseph-Weil just happens to be my mother. Yes, putting on avant-garde events for the community runs in the family!

I believe we are all Native American in some way. We are living on land originally inhabited by them. They are our indigenous peoples.  The green wave honors their core principle of environmental stewardship. They seek to pass along a sustainable planet to their relatives. An ancient Native American proverb says, “When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.”

Ascención

Dramatic Opera Cantata for Mezzo-Soprano, Piano, Chorus & Indigenous Instruments

Music by Benjamin Boone
Book & Lyrics by Helene Joseph-Weil

WHEN:
World Premiere
Sunday, February 24, 2008
3:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Concert Hall
California State University Fresno
5241 N. Maple Avenue (at Shaw and Cedar)
Fresno, CA 93740

FEATURING:

• The remarkable and inspiring story of Ascencion
• Helene Joseph-Weil (singer, mezzo-soprano)
• Hatem Nadim (piano)
• Chamber Singers & Concert Choir
• Dr. Anna Hamre (director)
• Costanoan Musical Instruments
• First ever recording of the bells of Mission San Juan Bautista

Visit the official Ascencion Project web site

TICKETS:
$10.00 General
$7.00 Students & Seniors
(559) 278-5829
Tickets for this groundbreaking work can be purchased at the box office online

Helene Joseph-Weil explains, "It is a dream come true to be performing the Ascención cantata that I have been developing since 1988. The cantata’s sole intent is to honor the life and spirit of Ascencion, one of the last members of the California Amah-Mutsun San Juan tribal band to retain complete linguistic and cultural fluency of her people."

"I first learned about this remarkable Native American woman in an article by Prof. Larry Engleman that appeared in the SF Chronicle on July 10, 1988. On that Sunday morning mesmerized by Harrington’s photo of Ascencion and reading the article about the tragic history of her Amah-Mutsun people and how Ascencion became known as The Saint of Gilroy, I was so moved that it came to me very strongly that a dramatic musical presentation could be one way to honor her memory and help preserve for the world what might have been lost forever. This goal I have now pursued for almost 20 years. Ascencion’s warm personality, sharp wit, and amazing memory shined, and I am excited to finally share her inspirational story and spirit with the audience."  www.ascencionproject.com

Listen to the full scoop on the NPR California Report story and the NPR national story.   View the rare photos of Ascencion and her family.

Also see the extraordinary International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers from all over the world who have formed a global alliance to help save the Earth. And visit the Sacred Land Film Project for a window into the last remaining sacred places.