Blessing of the Fleet Concert To Be Held In Bayfield
Summer (Mostly) Thursdays, a fresh series of concerts offering a broad range of music in a variety of settings around Bayfield, begins Sat., June 11, at the Christ Episcopal Church, 125 N 3rd Street, in Bayfield.
A "pre-Blessing of the Fleet" concert will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on June 11 to honor the fishing families who formed the backbone of this area's economy. Featured will be the Duluth-based Gichigami Trio.
Guest musicians Betty Braunstein (flute), Ron Kari (viola), and Vincent Osborn (bass) will join trio members Sam Black (piano), Laurie Bastian (violin), and Josh Aerie (cello) to perform music inspired by water, fortitude, courage, conviviality, tenacity, and ships.
Michio Miyagi's Haru No Umi ("The Sea in Spring") opens the program capturing the stillness of dawn and the playfulness of waves with the sounds of the Japanese shakuhachi flute and koto played on traditional western instruments.
Flowing westward, a stream of convivial melodies will be heard in Schubert's Trout Quintet. A rare performance of Beethoven's Pastorale Symphony (excerpted and arranged by Hummel) including the "storm" and "shepherds rejoicing" will follow.
In a moment of devotion, Rick Sowash's Pastoral will lower the anxiety levels. The music then becomes frisky, with Sowash's Curly Prays. The watery adventure will conclude with Stephen Foster's Swanee River.
In keeping with tradition, there is no admission charge, but free will offerings are encouraged and gratefully accepted. This concert is supported in part by a grant from the Chequamegon Bay Arts Council and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin.
The concert is also sponsored by the family of Mary Dobson and is dedicated to Mary, who loved music and enjoyed many years of being a hostess for concerts at Christ Episcopal Church. For more information about Summer (Mostly) Thursdays, please call 715-682-3272 or 715-779-5490, or visit www.bayfieldsummermusic.org.