An anthem for Earth.

Byline: Bob Keefer The Register-Guard

The Eugene Concert Choir will take a primeval journey through time and space this weekend when it performs Corvallis composer Hal Eastburn's cantata `Songs of the Earth.'

The music, though contemporary in form, has its roots in early indigenous music from around the world. Performed only twice before, the cantata combines Native American flute, drum, strings, chorus and narration with music from other indigenous peoples in a performance - involving a well-known Native American flute player - that should be theatrical as well as musical.

`It's very accessible,' says the choir's artistic director, Diane Retallack. `It will be something that anybody on first hearing will immediately have a feeling for it, a reaction to it. They will relate to it beautifully.'

Eastburn retired from Linn-Benton Community College after teaching music there for 26 years. He now heads the Meistersingers, a 50-voice men's choir at Oregon State University.

He is the composer of about 50 choral works, large and small, many of which he wrote for his community college choir classes.

`I am a composer who writes for practical situations,' he says. `I've had a couple of things published, but most of my stuff is in-house.'

He composed `Songs of the Earth' about eight years ago.

`My goal was to take poetry that reflected native peoples' attitudes toward the Earth,' Eastburn says. `The idea of the Earth Mother, the idea of protecting and nurturing the Earth. This is primarily a work of reverence for the Earth.'

The 40-minute choral piece combines English translations of the poetry of various indigenous peoples, with melodies that suggest the poetry's beauty.

The music is haunting and emotional. Eastburn used the pentatonic scale for much of the work, giving it a primal quality. The pentatonic scale, which you can play by sounding only the black keys on a piano, is common to early and indigenous music around the world.

The cantata draws on the poetry and songs from Lakota, Navajo, Yokuts, Inuit and Australian indigenous tribes. It opens with the Teton Sioux chant `hanta yo' (`clear the way'), which was used to begin many sacred ceremonies.

The work also includes a Grande Pueblo song celebrating a birth and seeking the blessing of the Earth mother; a Yokuts Indian prayer; Navajo legends; a traditional Eskimo song; and a quotation celebrating the sky, sea and beauty of the Earth.

`The melodies are fun and easy to sing,' the composer says. `The music does speak to people in an emotional way.'

L. Fisher, a choir member who is Mojave and Hopi, will narrate ``Songs of the Earth.''

Playing native flute will be Jan Michael Looking Wolf, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

His background is a combination of Kalapuyan and Celtic heritage. He played flute in the 2006 movie ``Tillamook Treasure'' and teaches Native American flute and music courses at Oregon State University.

Opening the concert will be Native American drumming by Johonaae'i Drum and Dancers. Led by Navaho Chet Clarke, the group will present excerpts of traditional drum music and native dances.

Accompanying the singers in the concert will be the Eugene Youth Symphony, an orchestra made up entirely of student performers under 21 years old.

CONCERT PREVIEW Eugene Concert Choir What: The vocal ensemble presents Hal Eastburn's ``Songs of the Earth,'' a program of chanting, legends and songs celebrating native people Where: Hult Center's Soreng Theater, Seventh Avenue and Willamette Street When: 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $15 to $28; through the Hult box office, 682-5000 Free preview: The choir will perform a free half-hour concert of selections from ``Songs of the Earth'' at 12:15 p.m. today in the lobby of the Hult Center.