Customer Rating: 
Summary: Shameful reflection
Comment: I first heard this music while driving home late one evening listening to Georgia Public Radio. I was fascinated by the haunting melodies and the rich blending of traditional orchestration and native american sounds. This was no easy task, given that the whole idea of the project was quite "outside the box" for a traditional musical score. Yet, the result is amazing. Each time I listen to it, I find myself reflecting shamefully about what my white European ancestors did to the Cherokee here in Georgia in the name of progress. Sometimes it is painful to listen to knowing that what the listener feels is only a ripple in comparison to the depth of the sorrow and despair experienced by the Cherokee during thier exodus to Oklahoma. Yet, somehow the musical score ends with joy and hope. If you like reflective music, this is a wonderful choice that will expand your musical horizons.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Comment: A few months ago, I had blindly picked up this CD, only because it dealt with a piece of Native American history. My husband is Cherokee and I thought that this would be a wonderful present to give him for Christmas. Little did I realize that the music turned out to be heartwrenching -- all the passion has been poured into it, that you can visualize past events as each note is being played. I highly recommend this masterpiece to anyone who appreciates quality music.
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Summary: FootPrints of Beauty
Comment: Increasingly, new artists of another generation are emerging who are wonderfully free of the constraints of the academy. Not despising melody nor eschewing memorable refrains, these artists have been set free to compose in true humility. They write beautiful music. For Aristotle, beauty consisted of three elements: claritas (clarity), porportionatis(porportion), and integritas(unity). The modern academy has lost beauty in its music because it has despised clarity; it has pridefully dreaded the notion of producing music that untrained ears might enjoy. Focusing on porportion and unity, it excised any melody that might be labeled pedestrian. Trail of Tears is, without shame and pretense, beautiful music. It does not despise melody, and equally avoids a musical lyricism for lyricisms sake. From its haunting beginnings to its dark depths, it captivates. It liberates the soul in a surprising and stunning piece: Footprints of My Mother. Any fan of Jim Brickman or Chopin's Nocturnes would pull off the road to hear this one. Lee Johnson is birthing new music out of a new heart and taking us back to the land of beauty. The docilitas (true humility) in this work is evident from the beginning. Johnson is a fearless composer who does not listen to the critics. The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton once said: A tree gives glory to God by being a tree. If it tries to be a bush or any other thing, it does not give glory to God. Lee Johnson gives glory to music by being himself, and refusing to edit out the clarity of his song of tears. A fabulous work and a great composer from whom we are bound to hear more.
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Summary: Musical revival of the long lost art of story telling
Comment: A rich and clever marriage of classical orchestration, native songs and rhythms that weave a tight tapestry of orchestration that will undoubtedly touch you. Trail of Tears is a musically told story of a young Cherokee woman on the long and arduous trail of the Cherokee people from the "enchanted land" (Georgia) to the new lands (Oklahoma) The Cherokee people have always been able to adapt to new situations. Their ability to embrace and incorporate foreign customs and musical styles are evident on this CD. Anyone interested in the history of the Native Americans, their history and their struggle, will find this CD complementary to their interests. This is one of those CD's that is best experienced when in a thinking mood and in a candle light atmosphere. This will set the stage to experience the story to its fullest, as it unfolds in a myriad of orchestral pieces, contemplative piano passages, mood setting Indian flutes and Native American chanting. The album musically revives the long lost art of story telling. I highly recommend it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A heart-touching example of Mr. Johnson's unique talent
Comment: If you can appreciate and relive this sad era of Native American heritage, if you can appreciate the marriage of orchestra and traditional Native American music, if you want to explore the talent of a young musician destined for greatness, The Trail of Tears is a must for you. I have been moved to tears and want to listen again and again.
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