Meet the Composer
Mark Grey in residence with the Phoenix Symphony
Composer Mark Grey was in residency with the Phoenix Symphony for their 2007-08 season. The residency centered on the commission and premiere of new work for orchestra and chorus entitled Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio.
Through the commissioned work and related residency activities the Symphony celebrated the rich traditions and contemporary presence of Navajo tradition the greater Phoenix area. Through a contemporary lens, composer Mark Grey and his collaborator, Navajo poet Laura Tohe explored the Twin Heroes War Story which is at the heart of the creation mythology of the Navajo people. By adapting this story to modern times, Enemy Slayer is a powerful commentary on the effects of war on the human psyche and the process by which veterans heal.
Enemy Slayer relates the story of Seeker, a Native American returning home from the current war in Iraq. Plagued by his memories of bloodshed and violence, Seeker endeavors to defeat this torment by returning to his people's corn-pollen path, a way of peach and harmony. A solo baritone sings the role of Seeker, while the chorus represents the Navajo people and humanity in general. It's a loosely updated version of the Navajo mythic narrative “Monster Slayer”, in which one of a pair of twin heroes returns from war, only to confront the metaphorical monsters that return with him.
Throughout the 2007-08 season Mark Grey was not only researching and composing the new work, but heavily involved in numerous public engagements throughout Arizona: public presentations with his collaborator Laura Tohe, work with children in after-school programs, creation of a special sound installation along with Navajo composer Raven Chacon for the First Friday Art Walk in Phoenix, and speaking at both of the premiere performances.