Flight of the Piasa written on a commission by the Alton High School Band (Alton, Illinois) by Robert Sheldon (see below) in 2008.
From the composer:
“The composition is meant to depict the majesty of the legendary Piasa, an enormous winged creature, and the bravery and triumph of the lllini tribe.
The Piasa Bird (pronounced pie-a-saw) is a local legend in the Alton area. Its discovery dates to 1673 when Father Jacques Marquette, in recording his famous journey down the Mississippi River with Louis Joliet, described the Piasa as a birdlike monster painted high on the bluffs along the Mississippi River, where the city of Alton, Illinois now stands.
According to the diary, the Piasa ‘was as large as a calf, with horns like a deer, red eyes, a beard like a tiger's, a face like a man, the body covered with green, red and black scales and a tail so long it passed around the body, over the head and between the legs’. The creature was given its name by the Illini tribe, ‘Piasa’ meaning a bird that devours men.
One of the most commonly-heard stories regarding this legend is that long ago there existed a birdlike creature of such great size that he could easily carry off a full grown deer in his talons. His taste, however, was for human flesh. Hundreds of warriors attempted to destroy the Piasa, but failed. Whole villages were destroyed and fear spread throughout the lllini tribe.
Ouatoga, a chief whose fame extended even beyond the Great Lakes, separated himself from his tribe, fasted in solitude for the space of a whole moon, and prayed to the Great Spirit to protect his people from the Piasa.
On the last night of his fast, the Great Spirit appeared to Ouatoga in a dream and directed him to select 20 warriors, arm them each with a bow and poisoned arrow, and conceal them in a designated spot. Another warrior was to stand in an open view, as a victim for the Piasa. When the chief awoke in the morning, he told the tribe of his dream. The warriors were quickly selected and placed in ambush. Ouatoga offered himself as the victim. Placing himself in open view, he soon saw the Piasa perched on the bluff eyeing his prey.
Ouatoga began to chant the death song of a warrior. The Piasa took to the air and swooped down upon the chief. The Piasa had just reached his victim when every bow was sprung and every arrow sent sailing into the body of the beast. The Piasa uttered a fearful scream that echoed down the river, and died. Ouatoga was safe, and the tribe saved.
