William F. Hanson (October 23, 1887 – 1969) was an American composer and music teacher who served as professor of music at
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
who specialized in
Native American music
Indigenous music of North America, which includes American Indian music or Native American music, is the
music that is used, created or performed by Indigenous peoples of North America, including Native Americans in the United States and Abori ...
. He studied, composed, and taught music. He is most well known for working with
Zitkala-Sa
Zitkala-Ša (Lakota: Zitkála-Šá, meaning Red Bird; February 22, 1876 – January 26, 1938), also known by her missionary and married name, Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, was a Yankton Dakota writer, editor, translator, musician, educator, and polit ...
on ''The Sun Dance Opera'', an opera based on the sacred ritual of the
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
*Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples
Place names
In the United States:
*Lakota, Iowa
*Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County
*Lakota ...
Sun Dance.
Biography
Hanson was born in
Vernal, Utah
Vernal, the county seat and largest city in Uintah County is in northeastern Utah, approximately east of Salt Lake City and west of the Colorado border. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,089. The population has since grown to ...
. He grew up in Utah near the
Sioux
The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota language, Dakota: Help:IPA, /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada, First Nations peoples in North America. The ...
and the
Utes of the White Rocks and Fort Duchesne,
with whom he became friends. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Brigham Young University (BYU) and then attended the Chicago Music College and Columbia University. He returned to Provo to teach at BYU in 1924 and was on the faculty for thirty-three years.
[ He was head of the department of music education for one year.] Later, he was an instructor of music at Uintah academy. He lived with the Utes on the Uintah reservation
The Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation (, ) is located in northeastern Utah, United States. It is the homeland of the Ute Indian Tribe (Ute dialect: Núuchi-u), and is the largest of three Indian reservations inhabited by members of the Ute Tribe ...
and he would attend their religious festivities.[ In all, he spent at least twenty years with Native Americans, especially the Utes.]
Hanson's main passions in life were music and learning about Native American cultures. His Native American friends gave him the name Ampa-O-Luta, meaning "the first tint of red in the east at dawn."[ In addition to his time spent on the Uintah reservation and at BYU, he was a piano soloist. He was also a member of ]the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
and served a mission to the Northern States.[
Hanson authored a book titled ''Sun Dance Land'' about the history of the Ute people. It also gives a detailed account of the history of ''The Sun Dance Opera''.] His master's thesis is called ''The Lure of Tam-Man Nacup Springtime Festival of the Utes''. He authored another book called ''The Lure of the Wigwam''.[
]
Works
All of Hanson's music was donated to the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Brigham Young University.[
]
Songs
Hanson wrote a number of songs about the 'Wild West' and the cowboy.[ He wrote several BYU songs, including "The College Song," "The Old Y Bell," "The Trail of the Y," and "Utah We Love Thee."][ He also wrote children's songs, including "I have two little hands" and "Wigwam moments."]
Operas
Hanson wrote three operas: ''Sun Dance'', ''Bear Dance'', and ''Bleeding Heart'', also known as ''The Heart of Timpanogos''. Each of his operas featured ceremonial dances, chants, and costumes inspired by Hanson's experience among Native Americans in Utah.[ The music was inspired by melodies he had learned from the Utes.][ The ''Bear Dance Opera'' tells the story of "Tam-Man Nacup," a springtime festival of the Ute people. It was produced at BYU in 1927. ''Bleeding Heart'' was produced at BYU in 1938. The opera was based solely on Hanson's imagination;][ he called it an 'opera fantasia.'][
]
Sun Dance Opera
When ''The Sun Dance'' first played in Utah in 1913, first in Vernal and then later in Provo, it played eleven consecutive times. It later played in Salt Lake City and then on Broadway in 1937. It was a collaborative work between Hanson and Gertrude Bonnin, also known as Zitkala-Sa. It consists of five acts depicting the "hopes, disappointments, and beliefs" of Native Americans. The characters in the opera are Sioux, the actual sun dance ritual was historically Lakota, Hanson's contributions were inspired by the Ute people, and Zitkala-Sa herself was Lakota, raised on a Sioux reservation.[ The opera features a love triangle between a Sioux warrior, a Sioux maiden, and a Shoshone.]
References
External links
William F. Hanson papers
L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) is the main academic library of Brigham Young University (BYU) located in Provo, Utah. The library started as a small collection of books in the president's office in 1876 before moving in 1891. The Heber J. Gran ...
, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
* Hanson, William F. (1967)
Sun Dance Land
published by J. Grant Stevenson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanson, William F.
1887 births
1969 deaths
People from Vernal, Utah
Songwriters from Utah
Harold B. Lee Library-related music articles
20th-century American composers
Brigham Young University faculty
Native American music
Opera in the United States