Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Rites Of The Pagan (2017)

Elisabeth Waldo, discovered by Leopold Stokowski, embarked on her musical career as a lead violinist in the All-American Youth Orchestra, touring Latin America. Recognized as a performer and conductor-composer, she is praised as an exceptional musical archaeologist for her profound knowledge of pre-Columbian musical traditions. Waldo's virtuoso violin playing and conducting work express her deep understanding of ancient American music. By recording pre-Columbian instruments and preserving them for future generations, she unlocks the secrets of the silent North American empire, revealing a forgotten world of treasures. Her meticulous attention to detail in replicating ancient musical cultures solidifies her reputation as a top-tier music historian. Through her work, Waldo creates a new world of sounds and contributes significantly to cultural history.

I wish to share my musical journey into the ancient Indo-American civilizations—their instruments and vibrant cultural expressions. I believe a rich and stirring new American musical idiom is emerging, one that will soon stand alongside Afro- and Euro-American traditions.

Though these early peoples left no written musical notation, their ceremonial music—performed in sacred rites for Pagan Deities—was deeply significant, where even the slightest error could mean death. Their instruments, often crafted in animal or symbolic forms from natural materials like bone, clay, shells, and metals, speak to a culture both sophisticated and spiritual.

In my study of these artifacts—some broken, yet resonant—I have created a system of “musical hieroglyphics,” bridging ancient sound with modern instruments. Their music, mystical and ceremonial, reveals the primal power and artistry of Pre-Columbian America—a beauty still profound by today’s standards. ~Elisabeth Waldo

Tracklist:
1-1 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - The Serpent And The Eagle [3:34]
1-2 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Within The Temple Of Macuilizochitl [3:08]
1-3 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Chant To The Sun [4:19]
1-4 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Papaganga Lament [3:32]
1-5 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Ritual Of The Human Sacrifice [2:04]
1-6 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Quechuan Love Song [3:34]
1-7 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Festival Of Texcatlipoca [2:15]
1-8 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Song For The Mountain Spirit [2:10]
1-9 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Wa-Sho-Sho Lullaby [3:31]
1-10 Elisabeth Waldo & Her Concert Orchestra - Penitente Procession [4:02]