Shi' naasha'

Shi' naasha' (I am going/walking around) is a Navajo song composed in 1868 to commemorate the release of the Navajo from internment at Fort Sumner. The song's lyrics express the elation of the Navajo people on the occasion of their return to their homeland, known as The Long Walk. Unlike most other Navajo songs, Shi' naasha' is almost entirely translatable, although there are few syllables that cannot be replaced with an English word of the same meaning. The word ho'zho'ni' (beauty) is used throughout the song.
This arrangement is partially based on another written by Jack Lee in the 1960s that was played by the Navajo Nation Band at the Rose Bowl Parade. Only a fragment of the Lee arrangement has been found but it contains all the motifs that moved moved through the band. It is here reconstructed and revoiced for the Territorial Brass by our arranger, Larry Versteeg.

recorded 2/27/2010 at First Presbyterian Church, Mesa AZ, by Jack Miller Productions, Jack Miller and Alexis Santos, engineers. Larry Baedke/Bb cornet, Bruce/Eb cornet, Walt Moffat/flugel horn, Jeanette Tippetts and David Geffen/Eb altos, Larry Versteeg/valve trombone, Don Larry/euphonium, Paul Green/tuba, Kevin Kilzer, percussion, Ellen McGown/flute. Arranged for Territorial Brass by Larry Versteeg.

Band Photo on previous page: Snowflake Band, date unknown