The Wind and Petit Jean (2014/rev 2023)

for orchestra
Duration: 13 minutes

The Wind and Petit Jean was commissioned by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2014. Christopher Theofanidis had been interested in tapping into the local history of places for his commissions. He found that the stories buried in the lore of a place are so rich and telling and sent him into musical realms that he would not have imagined on his own. When Christopher started looking into the history of Arkansas, he came across numerous stories connected to the Ozarks, many of which were incredibly hilarious, but some of which were haunting. The legend of Petit Jean falls into that latter category. The name is undoubtedly familiar to most in Arkansas, but the original story is printed below, from the Arkansas State Parks website, which sums up the sentiment of his piece very well. After becoming familiar with the story, Christopher imagined to himself while on a hike up there that he could hear the voice of Petit Jean on the wind that still blew through those parts. –Arkansas Symphony

Here is the story:

Legend of Petit Jean

The Legend of Petit Jean, and how the mountain received its name, begins in the 1700s with the story of a young French Nobleman, Chavet, who lived during the period of the French exploration of the New World. He requested permission to explore a part of the Louisiana Territory, and for a grant to claim part of the land. The King granted Chavet’s approval. Chavet was engaged to be married to a beautiful young girl from Paris, Adrienne Dumont. When told of his plans, she asked that they be married right away so she could accompany him.

Thinking of the hardship and danger on the journey, Chavet refused her request, telling her upon his return if the country was good and safe, they would be married and go to the New World. Adrienne refused to accept his answer, and disguised herself as a cabin boy and applied to the captain of Chavet's ship for a position as a cabin boy, calling herself Jean. The girl must have been incredibly clever in her disguise, for it is said that not even Chavet recognized her. The sailors called her Petit Jean, which is French for Little John.
The ocean was crossed in early spring; the vessel ascended the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River, to the foot of a mountain. The Indians on the mountain came to the river and greeted Chavet and invited the sailors to spend time there. Chavet, Petit Jean, and the sailors spent the summer atop Petit Jean Mountain until fall approached and they began preparations for their voyage back to France. The ship was readied and boarded the evening before departure.

That night, Petit Jean became ill with a sickness that was strange to Chavet and his sailors. It was marked with fever, convulsions, delirium, and finally coma. Her condition was so grave at daylight that the departure was delayed. During the illness, Petit Jean's identity was, of course, discovered. The girl confessed her deception to Chavet and begged his forgiveness. She requested that if she died, to be carried back to the mountaintop that she had spent her last days on, and be buried at a spot overlooking the river below. The Indians made a stretcher out of deerskins and bore her up the mountain. At sundown, she died.

Many years later a low mound of earth was found at the point we now call Petit Jean's Grave. Her death, and the legend that followed, is said to give the mountain and the overlook an enchanting quality that draws visitors back again, and again.

–from the Arkansas State Parks website, used with permission