Manitou Winds is a versatile chamber ensemble that seldom performs solely as a wind quintet — they enjoy breaking off into many different configurations aided by the multi-instrumentalists within the ensemble.
When they visited us in Studio A to perform and chat about their upcoming concert, that was no exception.
They've just added a new clarinetist to their mix, Jeanmarie Riccobono.
Harpist Jason McKinney likened welcoming someone new into a chamber group to having a regular group of friends who meet to play cards and when new people join, the dynamic shifts to include their new gifts.
Jeanmarie will play with the group in their concert "Sail Away Summer" at the Old Art Building in Leland, MI this Friday (Aug. 25) at 7 p.m.
They'll be presenting a program that combines both music and storytelling, including Peter Schickele's "Seven Bagatelles."
According to Jason McKinney, Schickele doesn't give the performers much information about the pieces. "He titles them things like, 'Walking Song,' and there's no expression written in the music," McKinney explained. "You're supposed to just do something with this music. And one day I said, 'Why don't we have seven unfinished short stories to go along with this?' And so we did!"
They'll also play a piece by Manitou Winds member Laura Hood called "First Flight" which tells a story musically of an injured raptor who arrives at a raptor rehabilitation center and has to learn to trust humans who are there to help it learn to fly again.
And to feature their new member, clarinetist Jeanmarie Riccobono will be be performing an Irish tune whose title can be translated to "Removing Your Cares Beneath Leafy Branches," where the listener is encouraged to picture sitting under a tree after having a bad day, and let the branches help you feel better.
Join Manitou Winds at the Old Art Building in Leland at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 for a night of music, stories and community.
They'll also be performing this same program as an encore performance in Frankfort, MI on Saturday, Sept.16 at 7 p.m. at the Oliver Art Center.
Kelley DiPasquale engineered this edition of Studio A.
Emily Duncan Wilson is IPR's digital content manager.
