Clay Jenkinson

narrating "Roosevelt in Cowboy Land" by Chris Brubeck

Clay Jenkinson is a humanities scholar as well as an author and social commentator trained in English Renaissance Literature. Thanks to a series of accidents, however, he is also a Jefferson scholar, a Lewis and Clark scholar, and a student of the future of rural America. He is one of the most entertaining public speakers in the United States and his performances are both humorous and enlightening, while maintaining a steady focus on ideas.

Clay is the director of the Dakota Institute in Washburn, ND, the president of Dakota Sky Education and the Chief Consultant for the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University. He writes a weekly column for the Bismarck Tribune and has authored numerous books. He makes his home in Bismarck, ND.

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Roosevelt in Cowboy Land is a newly commissioned symphonic work by composer Chris Brubeck. This three movement work for narrator and orchestra tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the North Dakota Badlands. Clay Jenkinson, who will perform the narration, also played an integral part in the original conception of the piece, and his writings on Roosevelt served as sources for some of the text.

Chris Brubeck says of the project: “When I write a new piece, it is always uncharted territory, especially when it is to be inspired by a very fascinating historical figure such as Teddy Roosevelt. My research on this project so far has been to absorb as much information as I can by reading biographies about Roosevelt. Already, this new knowledge is translating into musical ideas. The new score has to be full of energy to represent this multifaceted character. According to all accounts, he had remarkable stamina and an ability to multitask and push himself to the limits. These traits do not conjure up a calm and serene score: this man was more like a tornado on the great American Landscape!”

Beverly Everett has been part of this project from the start. Having worked with Chris in Bemidji as both a performer and composer, he was her first choice for this project. Everett says of the piece: “It is everything I dreamed it would be and more. I chose Chris because of his gift for weaving history, words, and music together in amazing ways, and because his music is eclectic and accessible. He has, with Roosevelt in Cowboy Land exceeded my expectations. And fusing Chris’ musical talents with Clay’s ability to literally bring Roosevelt to life is a dream combination. I have also studied Roosevelt, and I have spent a fair amount of time in the Dakota Badlands and Medora. Chris’ melodies, harmonies and colors paint a musical picture of this landscape, while telling one of the most exciting stories in history. This is a piece that people will be talking about for years to come!”

Commissioned by the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with the Theodore Roosevelt Center of DIckinson State University, Roosevelt in Cowboy Land received its premiere in October 2011 in North Dakota.