Three-Campus Collaboration Presenting “A Recital of Birds,” an Ancient Iranian Parable

Contact: Nancy Ogle, (207) 941-8580; George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

AUGUSTA — An 11th Century Persian parable about a fantastical journey through valleys and over mountains to find a mystical king with answers about spiritual enlightenment has been set to music for three unique performances, at UMaine and the universities of Maine at Augusta and Southern Maine later this month.

“A Recital of Birds” will be performed Sept. 27 at Jewett Hall, UMA, Sept. 28 at Corthell Hall at USM and Sept. 29 in Minsky Recital Hall, Class of 1944 Hall at UMaine. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and include music faculty from UMA, UMaine and USM.

“A Recital of Birds” is an original nine-movement composition for narrator, voice and instrumental jazz ensemble composed by UMA music professor Don Stratton, a nationally recognized composer.
 
The performances will feature UMaine’s “Trimorphic Protennoia,” a trio composed of music faculty members Nancy Ogle, a soprano, and Ginger Yang Hwalek, a pianist, with poet Kathleen Ellis, an Honors College lecturer, narrating. Others participating in the performance include, Stratton, on trumpet, and UMA musicians Steve Grover, drums, Greg Laughman, string bass, and Richard Nelson, guitar, and USM musicians Chris Oberholtzer, trombone, Craig Skeffington, trumpet, and Bill Street, reeds.

At UMaine, the performance will comprise the second half of a two-part program. The first half opens with Ogle, Hwalek and UMaine music instructor and organist Kevin Birch performing arrangements by American composer Brian Banks and Canadian composer Jacques Het