A Jamestown Trilogy

A Jamestown Trilogy is a three-movement suite inspired by the story of Captain John Smith and his crew, who sailed from England on December 20, 1606 in three small ships, the Discovery, Susan Constant and Godspeed. They first landed at Cape Henry on April 26, 1607 and then sailed up the James River where, on May 14, 1607, they landed on a site they named Jamestown.

In 1608, Smith was captured by the Powhatan Indians. Legend has it that he was considered a threat to the Indians because of his interest in metals and in searching for a waterway west. Smith was sentenced to death and placed on a stone alter to be killed when a twelve year old Indian Princess rescued him. Matoaka, nicknamed Pocahontas (Playful One), the daughter of Powhatan, chief of the confederacy, threw her body across Smith’s and saved his life.