A spokesperson says---
"...Founded in 2010, the Bach & Beethoven Experience brings artists together to collaborate and transform the classical concert experience from a standard passive listening presentation to an interactive experience through classical, folk, indigenous, and new music…
Written for an ensemble of both western and indigenous instruments, the piece is designed to capture the majesty and richness of the Chickasaw heritage through music.
Benson, who is a citizen of The Chickasaw Nation, said she wrote the piece to page homage to five dynamic Chickasaws who have made a profound impact on her people: Tishu Miko, the last great chief before the Removal, and for whom the Chickasaw Nation capital, Tishomingo, is named; Jonas Wolfe, who became governor of the Chickasaws in 1884 and humorously tested a young man to make sure he was worthy of marrying one of his daughters; Lushanya, the Songbird of the Chickasaws and the first native opera star, who toured throughout Europe during the reigns of Hitler and Mussollini; "Sadie" Humes, the co-author of the first Chickasaw dictionary who overcame the language barrier despite struggling in school; and Jesse Lindsey, a current culture keeper and elder of the Chickasaw Nation, especially known for his flute playing..."
