"I was an Artist-in-Residence at Isle Royale, staying at the Dassler Cabin for about three weeks in June 2005. Because I had composed a number of works inspired by water features in national parks, Isle Royale seemed an ideal place for me to seek inspiration for a large-scale composition. My proposed project was a half-hour concerto for flute, cello, and orchestra that would be premiered later that year by flute soloist Amy Saxton Wiggs, cello soloist Steven Wiggs, and the Fort Dodge Area Symphony, an amateur orchestra I was conducting at the time in Fort Dodge, IA.
I often describe my creative process as being one in which I think about the music for months or even years and write it in weeks and days, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I set off for the island. I guess I had expected to gather general experiences and see how those experiences might lead to musical thought."
Of Minong for flute, cello, and orchestra by Eric L. McIntyre
Of Minong (2005) is a series of musical meditations on aspects of Isle Royale National Park. Surrounded by the waters of northern Lake Superior, this island wilderness has been the source of inspiration for uncountable numbers of artists, especially since the National Park Service hosts a series of artists in residence on the island each summer. Of Minong is the result of Eric's residency in the summer of 2005.
Of Minong was composed for the Fort Dodge Area Symphony and soloists, Amy Saxton Wiggs and Steven Wiggs. It received its premiere in October 2005.
This first movement from "Of Minong" explores two images: (1) a very still early morning by Washington Creek as the white-throated sparrow breaks the silence and is gradually joined by other natural sounds, and (2) observations of sunlight dancing on the waves and ripples of Lake Superior.
Credit / Author:
Composed by Eric McIntyre. Performed by the Fort Dodge Area Symphony and soloists, Amy Saxton Wiggs and Steven Wiggs
A composition comprised initially of harmonic flute countered with continual foreboding cello. Slowly, the ante builds as various orchestra instruments begin to join in. As more orchestra instruments chime in, the composition becomes more chaotic. The chaos is broken with a crash of a symbol followed by the return of harmonic flute, joined by violin. The next segment is melodic, joyful, and hopeful, characterized mostly by flute. At the six minute mark, the tone changes from joyful to curious. Flute is joined by an array of string instruments, complementing the melody with a deep, moody sound. Then, the music begins to create a sense of urgency - violin plays faster with higher pitched flute. The flute is replaced by violin at the center of the sound. Next, brass and wind instruments recreate a sense of foreboding. Humans cough in the background. Seemingly, resolution is made as the music returns to a calm melody. Long cello notes are complimented by short and fast flute notes. The tempo repeatedly increases and decreases. The flute rapidly changes from tone to tone, climaxing in the reappearance of the full orchestra. Harmonic and hopeful flute is played with rhythmic strings in the background. The composition is concluded with a quiet and calm collection of flute notes.
In sepulcro aquoso
This second movement from "Of Minong" is inspired by the numerous shipwrecks that surround the island, especially the wreck of the tourist liner America that lies just below the surface in a channel on the west end of the island. While there were no humans lost when that ship sank, the lone fatality was a dog named Spike, whose owners had left him tied to the ship’s stern. The middle section of the movement includes references to Spike in the form of distant whimpers from the solo cello.
Credit / Author:
Composed by Eric McIntyre. Performed by the Fort Dodge Area Symphony and soloists, Amy Saxton Wiggs and Steven Wiggs
The piece opens with sad and foreboding notes of the cello, joined by the sounds of a hopeful yet apprehensive flute. Cello ups tempo and flute plays short, high-pitched, spiraling notes. A somber violin takes over, and ups tempo in a way that sounds fearful. A symphony of cello, flute, and brass induces feelings of complacency, giving up. The orchestra ups tempo and takes on a mysterious tone. Long notes of the flute are also shrouded in mystery. The orchestra again ups tempo and takes on a fearsome tone - something bad is foreboding. Now at the climax of the piece, all instruments contribute to the rushed pace and scary tone. A sudden shift to melodic flute follows, inspiring hope. It is short-lived, as flute again quickly changes tone to mystery. Repeated deep cello notes and short, rhythmic bursts of flute induce feelings of someone - or something - approaching, and it is scary. Cello returns to solo. The composition resolves in a cello and flute organization incited a feeling of acceptance.
Windigo
The title of this third movement refers to Windigo, a fearsome mythical beast that, in Anishinaabe traditions, roamed the north woods eating human flesh. Windigo is also a village on the southwestern end of the Isle Royale, of which the vicious waters and rocks have eaten many a ship.
Credit / Author:
Composed by Eric McIntyre. Performed by the Fort Dodge Area Symphony and soloists, Amy Saxton Wiggs and Steven Wiggs
The piece opens with loud, repeated drums in short bursts. Violin and background orchestra up the tempo, broken by solo short drum bursts. The tone is adventurous, yet fearful. An up tempo flute solo is complimented by background orchestra, featuring deep brass sounds. The crash of symbols again up the tempo. Short, spiraling bursts of flute are repeated. A feeling of rescue or safety is incited by deep brass instruments. It is short-lived, fast flute melodies swirl over and over, followed by a similar sounding cello. Brass again takes center stage, creating a tone of finality. Short, whirling flute and cello notes along with loud drum bursts conclude the composition.
Eric
About the Artist
Eric McIntyre was an Isle Royale Artist-in-Residence from June 7th to June 25th, 2005. He is a versatile artist who maintains careers as a composer, conductor, instrumental performer, and educator. He currently serves on the faculty of Grinnell College where he conducts the Grinnell Symphony and teaches music composition, theory, and history. He is also the Music Director of the Central Iowa Symphony and the Fort Dodge Area Symphony.
McIntyre began his professional career as a hornist with the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera Orchestras when he was completing doctoral studies in composition at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. While still performing in Houston, he accepted a position on the faculty of the Hurley School of Music at Centenary College of Louisiana, where he conducted the Hurley Symphony Orchestra and directed the composition studio. He joined the Grinnell College faculty in 2003.
Beyond his musical activities, McIntyre and his wife Guinevere raise dairy sheep, dairy goats, turkeys, and chickens on their farms outside Grinnell, Iowa where they grow much of their own food. Guinevere is an active cheesemaker, and Eric is an amateur butcher who processes all of the meat they raise on the farm. They enjoy rural life with their sons Miles and Ty and their dogs Bibi, Little Dickens, and Pippi.
