The Four Moons
Dance was important to Ballard. Ballet, contemporary dance, and traditional Native American dance are all represented in his works. Rhythmic motives, derived from dances of numerous tribes, underpin his music. The Four Moons, the composer’s third ballet, was premiered as part of Showcase ’67 in celebration of Oklahoma’s 60th Anniversary of Statehood. The work featured four Oklahoma ballerinas of Native American descent: Yvonne Chouteau (Cherokee), Moscelyne Larkin (Shawnee), Rosella Hightower (Choctaw), and Marjorie Tallchief (Osage). It was imbued with meaning. Ruth Ballard, the wife of the composer, wrote the original program notes:
The composer, Louis W. Ballard, created a suite of classic dances, combining the traditional European dance forms with modes and rhythms associated with Indian tribal music. Each dance embodies the authentic spirit of the tribe of each ballerina, conceived through the contemporary style of the composer. This allowed the four separate dance dramas, according to the individual style of each ballerina and the distinctly varied tribal characteristics…The Four Moons, symbolizing the four ballerinas whose tribal ancestors reached Oklahoma Territory from four different directions has significance in Indian mythology as The Four Seasons, or Four Directions of life. The Four Moons dance in the ceremonial dances of the Pow-Wow. Hypnotized by the intoxicating spell, they assume the spirit of their tribal ancestors.
Reviews of the work were positive and it was listed along with other important ballets by the dance critic, Walter Terry. Later, the composer prepared a concert suite version of the music, without dancers, as presented here.
Program notes by Dr. Karl Erik Ettinger