Tag: Jason McKinney

Sail Away Summer

On Friday, August 25, we presented Sail Away Summer, a special program combining music, poetry and storytelling at the Old Art Building in Leland, MI. On Saturday, September 16, we’re performing an encore presentation of this program at the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort,… Continue Reading “Sail Away Summer”

The Pitter-Patter

This post was written in preparation for our 2019 concert: A Celtic Summertide Another original piece premiering at our 2019 A Celtic Summertide concert is a colorful quartet for flute, clarinet, guitar, & harp by our own Laura Hood! Entitled Happy Feet, it’s an… Continue Reading “The Pitter-Patter”

Beneath Leafy Branches

This post was written in preparation for our 2019 concert: A Celtic Summertide One of the new selections on our 2019 A Celtic Summertide program was composed by Jason based on an old Irish folk tune. Folk tunes often have origins that are difficult… Continue Reading “Beneath Leafy Branches”

A Celtic Summertide 2019

In the summer of 2018, we performed a concert at Frankfort’s Oliver Art Center featuring traditional and original music from Ireland, Scotland, Nova Scotia, & the United States. That August 2018 concert was such a resounding success and received such a positive response from… Continue Reading “A Celtic Summertide 2019”

Finding the Words

This post was written in preparation for our May 2019 concert, Found Objects. “Music takes a long time to speak—much longer than words by themselves” —Ralph Vaughan Williams Poetry and song have been natural companions since time immemorial, but in Western Classical music, it… Continue Reading “Finding the Words”

Whoa!

Inspiration can turn up anyplace, whether or not you’re searching for it. It can be found trailside on a walk through a familiar nature preserve, casually absorbed while people watching from your favorite café window, or even scribbled amid the pages of an old… Continue Reading “Whoa!”

Spinning Tales from Seven Bagatelles

This post was written in preparation for our May 2019 concert, Found Objects. What is a bagatelle? Is it a fancy pasta shape traditionally served in a light béarnaise sauce? A hearty Italian bread served alongside a cheeseboard? Actually, it’s neither of those things,… Continue Reading “Spinning Tales from Seven Bagatelles”

Found Objects

Do inanimate objects have a narrative, a story to tell from their perspective? Can ordinary objects be viewed as works of art? Artists have explored this concept throughout history in one form or another, but composer Jenni Brandon (b. 1977) may be the first… Continue Reading “Found Objects”

Album Release Party!

On Saturday, March 9, 2019, we invited everyone to Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery in Leelanau County to celebrate with us in the release of our debut album, First Flight. An afternoon of excellent local wine and beautiful local music, it was great to… Continue Reading “Album Release Party!”

Translating A Sunset

As musicians, we translate written music—the composer’s instructions and all the technical demands—into an active, emotional experience for an audience. During our rehearsals, we often discuss where we think a piece is going—the story it’s telling, the images it brings to our minds, or… Continue Reading “Translating A Sunset”