Indian Summer, Section 4 2026 Regional Championships

The ‘Indian Summer’ is that of North America, and the music, entertaining but more than half serious, will perhaps evoke memories of tales of Native Americans.

There are four movements:

• The Great Chief Speaks
• By the Cool Waters
• Totem Dance
• Hymn to the Great Spirit

This Fantasy is in the form of a Suite, although there should be no long break between each movement. The composer sometimes concocts a little story to illustrate the music, somewhat as follows:

1. "The Great Chief Speaks": the warmth of Autumn's "Indian Summer" will soon be a memory, and hard Winter will set in; so the Chief must hold a great Powwow with his people
2. "By the Cool Waters": a little girl, not interested in grown-up solemnities, slips away to a nearby lake. She gazes at her reflection in the water; executes a little dance, then falls to dreaming.
3. "Totem Dance": this will be exciting - the little girl goes running to see! The dancing becomes wilder, then rhythm more insistent, then suddenly silence.
4. "Hymn to the Great Spirit": the Powwow closes with a majestic utterance by the Great Chief. A hymn is sung to the "Great White Spirit", and the people turn their thoughts to preparations for the coming Winter.