Join Monkey Hollow Bistro for a generous amount of “wolgemutness”
Wolgemut (pronounced vol-guh-moot) will perform at the Monkey Hollow Bistro in the Wollemann House in Ferdinand on Wednesday, June 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
“Wolgemut” is an ancient germanic word, meaning “to be in a good mood.” Wolgemut is also the name of this very unique minstrel troupe whose members believe the goal of every performance should be to leave the audience in a good mood.
The name says it all!
Fun, humor and endless amounts of energy are the essentials of a Wolgemut performance. Music, dance and comedy fused with a generous amount of “wolgemutness” turns every Wolgemut show into a high-powered event — a Renaissance Rock concert!
Founded in Berlin, Germany, Wolgemut has performed its uncommon style of historical and traditional music on original instruments throughout the United States and Europe since 1997.
Recent performances in the States include concerts throughout the Southwest and Hawaii as well as performances at the Southern California Pleasure Faire, Sterling Renaissance Festival in New York, Texas Renaissance Festival and the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
Music venues include small clubs as well as music festivals. Wolgemut has also performed at many venues in Europe including the Stockholm Music Festival, The Visby Medieval Week in Gotland, Sweden, the International Medieval Theatre Festival in Camerino, Italy, the Hansa Festival in Hamburg, Germany and the Rencontres de Saint-Chartier in Saint-Chartier, France.
Troupe members say it all starts with the sound and “Historic World Music” is the term used to describe what is distinctively Wolgemut. They also use traditional and historical material from various European countries such as folk songs and dances from Sweden, France, Germany as well as from the Balkan countries.
Original compositions are included in their performances.
The band includes Micha (Michael H. Gartner), who plays a variety of shawms, Rauschpfeifen (wind capped shawms), bagpipes, flutes, medieval strings (such as the mandora and the fiddle) and percussion; Klecka (Christopher Klecka), a veteran piper and a product of the vibrant Houston bagpipe scene; Jakob (Daniel Williams), who comes to Wolgemut with lots of percussion experience and a passion for history and music — he plays drums of all sorts as well as wind instruments; and Albrecht (Michael Huebner), who has been playing percussion instruments since he was 13 years old.
Wolgemut uses a variety of percussion instruments, but the one that gets the most attention is the “Big Drum” also known as a tapan, tupan or davul. Wolgemut performs historical music on original instruments such as the medieval bagpipes, shawms and bombastic drums as well as quiet instruments like the flute, medieval fiddle and harp.
All of the group’s instruments are unique, one-of-a-kind and made just for the band by a variety of builders. They use a variety of bagpipes from all over Europe, hence the reason they are called an “international” minstrel troupe. The group’s favorite bagpipe is the German “Dudelsack” but one can also hear French, Swedish and Spanish bagpipes on Wolgemut recordings.
Their kilts are technically known as “Faltenrock” or “folded skirt”, modeled after various drawings of “Landsknecht” from the 16th century. The Landsknecht were famous for their outrageous fashions and the Wolgemut troupe decided that Renaissance Rock ’n Roll needed rowdy clothes to match.
It should be a fantastic evening of fun. Come enjoy the music, have fun, do good and “Be Wolgemut”!
[box]If you plan to go ….
What: A performance by the world-renowned Wolgemut
When: Wednesday, June 15
Where: Monkey Hollow Bistro in the Wollenmann House (on the patio weather permitting)
Time: Starting at 6:30 p.m.
Food: In addition to the regular food and beverage menu, the Bistro will offer a plate special — brats, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes for $6.95.[/box]
