Kalamazoo Living History Show - Official Web Site

Many aspects of the history and culture of a society can be traced through its music, and the unique heritage of Michigan and the upper Great Lakes is no exception. The 2010 Kalamazoo Living History Show™ will focus on and explore the rich and varied cultural traditions of the Great Lakes region from earliest European contact up to the late 19th century. Included will be the musical traditions of the Native Americans, the lilting, rhythmic songs of the French voyageurs, the martial music of the fifers & drummers that accompanied the European military powers battling to take control of this rich fur trading area in the 18th century, songs from the Civil War era, and music of the logging and mining industries during their heyday.

Musicians specializing in the heritage of Great Lakes music will be performing at the show, interpreting these cultures through the lyrics and music that have been passed on to us through time. We invite you to come listen, learn, participate, tap your toes, and most of all, enjoy- enjoy the sounds our forefathers left us!

Members of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Bush Native American Drum and Dance tell the story of their People through their outstanding drumming, singing, and dancing. As the Pokagon Potawatomi tribal educational material states: “…the drum for the Nishnabe has special meaning: it represents the heartbeat of our people. The word dwégén has its root in the word odé, which means heart in our language. In a traditional sense, our instruments are more than simple material objects we use to make music. They are representative of where we come from, our connection to Nokmeskignan, Grandmother Earth. The swooshing sound of a rattle represents the creation of this world. When a déwégenatek, drumstick, strikes the drum, it is an extension of our own heartbeat…though the déwégen is used for social, ceremonial, and personal reasons, it always will connect us to the old ways.” The Bush Native American Drum and Dance perform at many pow wows and historical festivals. They are always great favorites wherever they appear, and their music and dance are eloquent representations of a vibrant culture.

Rick and Hillary Wagner have been performing together since 1995. As the musical duo “Jim’s Red Pants,” they play an amazing variety of original, historic, and contemporary American, Celtic, Scandinavian, and other world folk music.

Historical events are among Rick and Hillary’s favorite venues. Hillary says “there is such a sense of connection with our past to play the music our ancestors played, sometimes in the very same spot!” Rick and Hillary have performed at many living history events, including the Feast of the Hunters’ Moon, Mississinewa 1812, Tall Stacks, Roscoe Village, Lore of the Laughery, the NMLRA National Shoots, Ohio Folk Festival, Penn’s Colony, Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village, US Grant Ball, and many others.

Hillary, a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati, and Rick, who holds both bachelor and master degrees in English and creative writing, love what they do and that is reflected in the vivacity of their music. Hillary is an outstanding fiddler, who is equally at home on “Maid behind the Bar” as she is playing a string quartet at a wedding or sitting in the pit orchestra. Rick is an inventive composer, whose waltzes are stunning, elegant melodies with interesting harmonic twists.

Rick and Hillary have recorded six CD’s together. Rick has recorded both solo and duo albums with Marvin Thordsen. He also played and recorded for years with Dave Gordon, an astonishing musician. Hillary recorded with Brittany Bay and as a studio musician on the projects of many other musicians.

In addition to their main instruments of fiddle and guitar, Rick and Hillary play Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, penny whistle, concertinas (Anglo and English style), flute, banjo, and more. www.jimsredpants.com

Denise Wilson is one of the best-known and respected performers of historical music in the Midwest. Her first professional musical experience came during her college years when she sang with a French dance band while studying in Strasbourg, France. For the past two decades she has performed with highly acclaimed musical groups – first Bon Jolais during the 1990’s and then Traveler’s Dream since 2001. With these bands she released six musical recordings and performed at historical reenactments, museums, historical societies, and state and national historical events in many parts of the country. Denise is also an arts educator, giving programs which use music as a vehicle to “teach” history at schools, colleges, and other venues.

With a bachelor’s degree in French and a Ph.D. in American History, Denise has a broad knowledge of the culture and history surrounding the music she plays. Much of her music is culled from the musical traditions of the American Midwest, particularly songs carried here by early settlers from England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Her special area of expertise is the history and music of the colonial French voyageurs and settlers who lived in the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi Valley. The high quality of Denise’s music has been recognized by the Indiana Arts Commission which has twice chosen her as a recipient of the Individual Artist Fellowship.

Chance Heasty was three months old when he began attending historical reenactments with his parents, Denise Wilson and Paul Heasty, who were members of Bon Jolais and the Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps. Chance began his musical career with fiddle lessons at the age of five and within two years was performing with Bon Jolais. He is known for his excellent work on the fiddle, as a result of studying with some of the Midwest’s finest Celtic and old-time fiddlers, but he also shines on the Irish whistle and fife. Chance has been performing most of his life with Bon Jolais and Traveler’s Dream and enjoys sharing his music at historical events and a wide variety of folk music venues. www.travelersdream.net

The music of the fife and drum is the earliest form of military music in America. The early colonizing forces of Britain, France, and Holland brought these instruments with them, not only to provide music but as a means of military communication. During long marches, battles, and daily life in camp, the music of the fife and drum played a very functional part in every phase of the foot soldier’s existence.

The Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps vividly bring to life the history of the colonial French military presence in North America. With brightly colored uniforms and spirited sounds, this group of talented performers lends an air of historic pageantry to every event. From the Corps’ founding in 1970, authenticity in uniforms, drill routines, and music has been strictly adhered to. Carefully conducted research in the archives of France and Canada and with the artist-historian of the French Army has enabled the Corps to authentically portray “Les Compagnies Franches de la Marine due Canada,” or the Independent Compagnies of French Marines. In 1717, French Marines established a trading post on the Wabash River near present-day Lafayette, Indiana, Fort Ouiatenon.

The Corps have performed in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Canada, as well as many locations throughout the United States, including Carnegie Hall. They have released three recordings of fife and drum music, thereby carrying on the musical traditions of their French Marine forefathers. Several members of the Corps will be on hand at the show, to talk about the history of fife and drum and to play some of their repertoire. www.tafdc.org

As a seven year old boy, Mark Logsdon watched a Walt Disney movie that had fife and drum in it. He has had a love for fife and drum ever since! In 1974, Mark brought his memories of the Walt Disney film to life when he created the 1st Michigan Fife and Drum Corps. The Corps portray an 18th century fife and drum Corps, and are well known for striking military precision and authentic rendering of martial music. Clad in frock coats, they make a memorable sight at any event they attend. The Corps promote family involvement, and several of these families boast three generations of membership!

The 1st Michigan Fife and Drum Corps have brought rousing music to locations around the world, including tours in Scotland, Wales, and England, where they played for the Royal Family! The Corps have released several recordings. The show is proud to welcome several members of the 1st Michigan Fife and Drum Corps as they come to share their insight and passion for fife and drum corps music with the audience. www.1stmichigan.com

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, March 20th

Sunday, March 21st