RELEASED: December 4th 2015
TRACKS: 14
TOTAL LENGTH: 00:67:15
FORMAT: 320 kbps MP3
CATEGORIES: Inspired Music
GENRE: World / International, Native American

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Raised in the culture of his Apache roots, Roman Orona presents a collection of Apache songs that express his people’s sacred values. With drums, dancers’ bells, whistles and vocals sung from the heart, Roman’s music acknowledges the spirits of the ancestors who sacrificed their lives, families and lands, so that their tribal communities could endure. Driven by a vision of respect for all humanity, these songs from the Apache tradition are meant to touch the human soul in all of us.

The concept for this album came to me many years ago while participating in a sunrise ceremony and wondering when indigenous music will become mainstream — not mainstream as in selling out, but in a way that everyone can listen and truly appreciate the music. I want non-Native people to hear the songs of the Native peoples of the Americas and grasp their meanings. I want to shift the response from “that was nice” to “I understand what you are saying.” This is an ever-evolving journey of bringing our music to all ears so that it can be heard and appreciated. The concept of Circling Spirits is one of acknowledging those who have sacrificed their lives, family, possessions, language, land and more, for us to be here and now are adapting to the current times by transcending prejudices. It is about appreciating the struggles of life and surviving for the betterment of humanity.

This album is about reaffirming and recommitting ourselves to live by our sacred values. It is honoring and abiding by natural laws of respect and balance. In the songs of Circling Spirits, I have combined the Pow-Wow song style with the Apache song style. My father, Dr. Joel Orona, translated the songs into Apache. The art of singing Apache songs, playing the drum and dancing ceremonial and Pow-Wow styles was passed down to me as a child. The stories of my people and of the atrocities that my people encountered were a big part of my upbringing. I learned the Apache songs because they are made to touch the human soul.

My musical development went beyond my cultural traditions, into classical, jazz, hip-hop, rock, country, reggae, as well as music in different languages. Many elders wisely taught me that a tight grip on our culture would make our culture disappear. If it is not shared, it will wither. Traditions cannot and will not be as they were 100 years ago, or even 25 years ago. This world is constantly changing. We, as Native people, are changing along with it. Our ability to adapt to our environments has kept us from becoming extinct. Our indigenous roots are d eep-seated in the world that we live in. As Native people of the Americas we have a special obligation to the world.

The son of the Baha’u’allah (prophet founder of the Bahai’ Faith) bestowed great importance to us as Native people when he said, “Attach great importance to the indigenous population of America… ..these Indians, should they be educated and guided, there can be no doubt that they will become so illumined as to enlighten the whole world…” ‘Abdu’l-Baha

This album is dedicated first and foremost to God/Yusen (the Creator) and Baha’u’allah. To my ancestors, family and friends who have passed on and sacrificed for me; to Frank and Marcelina Orona, Manuel and Romelia Renteria, Dr. Joel and Esther Orona, Dr. Shahrzad Orona, Kaya Orona, Tahj Orona, Dr. Michael Orona, Selena Trevino-Orona, Octavio Orona, Joaquin Orona, and Ayla Orona, my aunts, uncles and cousins, THANK YOU!!! A huge thanks to Stephen Butler, Robert Doyle, and the rest of the Canyon Records staff. Thanks to R. Carlos Nakai, the late Phillip Cassadore, Dashmesh Khalsa, Gabriel Bey (Moorish Manor), Dustin Chaffin (Jivemind), Carlos Peynetsa, and my friends who have been there through my ups and downs (you know who you are). Blessings to you all and enjoy Circling Spirits!!!!
— Roman Orona

All songs composed by Roman Orona unless otherwise noted.
Italics indicate free translation of Apache lyrics.
Apache translations provided by Dr. Joel Orona.

1. Greetings, Creator (4:15)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells, calls
Greetings, Creator,
we come and gather here
to give thanks to you,
you give us our power.

2. Allah-U-Abha (3:34)
Sung in Arabic and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Kaya Orona – Additional vocals
Allah-U-Abha (“God is Most Glorious”)
is used by Bahai’s both when greeting someone
or bidding someone farewell.

3. At Sunrise (3:21)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
As the sun rises,
I start to sing and say
‘thank you’ for the new day
and all the good that you give us.

4. Warriors (5:01)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
I am the total warrior
I give no ground
I do not retreat
I meet you eye to eye
I am the rush you cannot see
The force you cannot counter
The one you cannot defeat
I am the total warrior….
(Excerpt of a poem written by Dr. Joel Orona entitled
I Am the Total Warrior for Roman Orona)

5. Dancing Spirits (4:28)
Sung in vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Kaya Orona – Additional vocals
R. Carlos Nakai – Native American Flutes
Russ Marsden - Additional rhythm programming

6. Ways (4:18)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Prayers are ways to speak to the Creator, always use them,
never forget to talk to the Creator.

7. Sacred Cave Song (4:01)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Phillip Cassadore – Lead vocals and drum
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
This song was recorded in 1966 and released on the Canyon Records LP Apache (CR-6053) by the late Phillip Cassadore and the late Patsy Cassadore. The children of a renowned medicine man, siblings Philip and Patsy were born and raised on the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona. Deeply traditional people, they spent their lives dedicated to preserving and nurturing their San Carlos Apache culture. They were pioneers in their efforts to outreach to non-Native communities becoming ambassadors raising awareness about Native American rights and culture. On this song, Roman joins the great Phillip Cassadore, a singer who has provided him with much inspiration. Together they fulfill the lifework of the Cassadores to ensure that Apache musical traditions endure for future generations.

8. Spirit Calls (3:18)
Sung in vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Kaya Orona – Additional vocals

9. Attributes (4:32)
Sung in English and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
This song is talking about the
attributes of the Creator.
The Exalted One The Hidden One
The Faithful One The Creating One
The Glorious One The Bountiful One
The Sufficing One The Omniscient One
The Healing One The Manifest One
The Sovereign One The Knowing One
The Wise One The Sanctified One
The Majestic One The Magnificent One
The Ruling One Most Holy One

10. Walk in Beauty (4:44)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Walk in Beauty in thy universe,
to know thyself.

11. Morning’s greeting (4:40)
Sung in vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Kaya Orona – Additional vocals
Tahj Orona – Additional vocals

12. Dance Softly, Sing Loudly (4:18)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Dance softly on our Mother Earth but sing hard for our ancestors.

13. One People (5:33)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Make all the hearts one;
make us all be one people.

14. Circling Spirits (5:40)
Sung in Apache and vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells, whistles
Kaya Orona – Additional vocals
Sound design – Russ Marsden
Morning’s greetings.

15. Dancing Spirits (Visionary Remix, 4:29)
Sung in vocables.
Roman Orona – Lead and backing vocals, drum, bells
Kaya Orona – Additional vocals
R. Carlos Nakai – Native American Flutes
Dashmesh Khalsa - Remxing, programming, sequencing and all other instrumentation

Credits:
Special thanks to.
Executive Producers – Robert Doyle and Stephen Butler.
Produced by Stephen Butler.
Recorded at Jivemind, Glendale, Arizona.
Engineer - Dustin Chaffin.
Recorded, edited, mixed & mastered at Jack Miller
Productions, Phoenix, Arizona.
Engineer – Russ Marsden.
Print Design by Jeffrey Nagy, nilegraphics.com.
Cover Painting by Ran Valerhon.
Cover concept – Roman Orona.
Photography by Robert Doyle.
Published by DMG Arizona (ASCAP).
CR-6530 pm 2015 Canyon Records,
3131 West Clarendon Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85017.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication of this recording in any form is illegal.