Tag: Chamber Music

New Voices: Laura Hood

Laura composed “First Flight” to honor her friend Rebecca Lessard, founder of Wings of Wonder, a raptor rehabilitation center and sanctuary based in Empire, MI.

Conferring with the Sun

This post was written in preparation for our May 2017 concert, Music Speaks In our 2017 spring concert, Manitou Winds explores the meandering, mystical path connecting music and words. Words were created to communicate. Whether spoken or written, we need words to translate, convey,… Continue Reading “Conferring with the Sun”

Musical Fruit II

For our first recipe collection in the Theme & Variations series, I decided we should explore the musical fruit (beans!) by starting with a very basic recipe and then expanding its flavor horizons a bit… The Musical Fruit Our first variation on the theme… Continue Reading “Musical Fruit II”

Dolce e Delizioso I

In this final collection of recipes, we’ll play sweetly in the kitchen; calling upon a single versatile cake recipe to deliver an array of tempting treats fit for finishing a meal or rounding out a special occasion.

Winter Songs & Carols: Our 2017 Concert Program

Thank you to everyone who came to hear Manitou Winds’ 2017 Winter Songs & Carols program. Each year, we put together a unique collection of songs in various styles performed on many different instruments to inspire you to embrace the entire season of winter.… Continue Reading “Winter Songs & Carols: Our 2017 Concert Program”

Sojourn of Spring: The Art of Collaboration

Manitou Winds will be joined onstage, this spring, by special guest soloist Thomas Bara, organ, to present two exciting works for organ and winds.

O’Carolan Reimagined

When I began studying lever harp in 2010, one of the volumes of harp music I purchased was a collection of tunes by O’Carolan*. Exploring the tunes while also teaching myself to play the harp, I eventually read more and more about the composer,… Continue Reading “O’Carolan Reimagined”

The Old Ash Tree

One of my fondest memories of moving to our home in Northern Michigan was waking up on that first morning, looking out the window, and seeing the old ash tree at the edge of the front lawn. It was majestic and stately, easily setting… Continue Reading “The Old Ash Tree”

The Art of Collaboration: Lauren Everett Finn

This article was written in preparation for our Spring 2023 concert, Complementary Colors. It was on a spontaneous visit in early 2020 to the Glen Arbor Arts Center that I happened upon a work by Lauren Everett Finn. Her piece was displayed along with… Continue Reading “The Art of Collaboration: Lauren Everett Finn”

Cicadas at the Equinox

As creative director of Manitou Winds, I would have to say unconventional combinations are a specialty of our ensemble. Whether we’re combining seemingly unrelated instruments (e.g., clarinet, ukulele, and harp) or calling upon an instrument to play something most would consider “out of character,”… Continue Reading “Cicadas at the Equinox”