Original and Latin American Music Inspired by Wind, Water and Motion

A concert by Vento Trio on January 12 pays homage to “wind, water and motion.”  This theme is reflected both in the songs that will be played and the instruments that will fill the room with those melodies. Janet Grice, who plays bassoon in the group, explains: “We play wind instruments – clarinet, bassoon and flute – and use wind to produce a sound.”  The Latin American songs magnify connections to the environment with a repertoire that is inspired by water, like Grice’s arrangement of Cascades by Oliver Nelson. Grice also composed several of the program’s works, including Lake Tear of the Clouds, which is based on the source of the Hudson River in the Adirondacks. Lastly, the concept of “movement” plays heavily in a selection of songs that represent motion, such as birds and trains. Movement also refers to songs written in protest about people who have been forced to leave their homelands for better economic conditions. For instance, Expresso 2222 is a nostalgic tribute to a train that the composer Gilberto Gil took in his homeland of Bahia, Brazil.  Kevin Willois (flute) and Sarah Bednarcik (clarinet) round out the Trio. The concert, which is supported by ArtsWestchester’s Yonkers Arts Initiative grant, will take place at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site. For more info, visit ventotrio.com.

A version of this article first appeared in the December/January issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.