​Bach + Beethoven Experience Presents World Premiere of ‘Songs of The Chickasaws’ Feb. 28-March 1

Chicago, Ill. — The Bach + Beethoven Experience — a Chicago-based music group that performs a mix of classical, folk, indigenous, and new music in an interactive and approachable way — is pleased to present the world premiere of composer Brandi Berry Benson’s new work, “Songs of The Chickasaws: Epic Tales Told Through Music,” Feb. 28 and March 1 at The Checkout, 4116 N. Clark St., in Chicago.

Written for an ensemble of both western and indigenous instruments, the piece is designed to capture the majesty and richness of the Chickasaw heritage through music.

Benson, who is a citizen of The Chickasaw Nation, said she wrote the piece to page homage to five dynamic Chickasaws who have made a profound impact on her people: Tishu Miko, the last great chief before the Removal, and for whom the Chickasaw Nation capital, Tishomingo, is named; Jonas Wolfe, who became governor of the Chickasaws in 1884 and humorously tested a young man to make sure he was worthy of marrying one of his daughters; Lushanya, the Songbird of the Chickasaws and the first native opera star, who toured throughout Europe during the reigns of Hitler and Mussollini; "Sadie" Humes, the co-author of the first Chickasaw dictionary who overcame the language barrier despite struggling in school; and Jesse Lindsey, a current culture keeper and elder of the Chickasaw Nation, especially known for his flute playing.

“I have always been drawn to my Chickasaw heritage and learning about the history of the Chickasaw people. These stories particularly inspired me because they bring out an unexpected or surprising perspective to each individual — such as Tishu Miko, who was a fierce but compassionate warrior; the surprisingly humorous account of Jonas Wolfe, even though he was known as a stoic leader with “rugged integrity;” the rising popularity of an ‘Indian princess’ on the opera stage in the face of two horrific dictatorships; the revitalization of the Chickasaw language through a woman who struggled with language in school; and someone who brought the origin story of the flute into the present and future. I knew going into this that I wanted to have five distinct pieces, one for each of these individuals, to effectively tell their stories. And I thought putting these pieces together would be give the music more texture and depth and a broader variety of sounds, especially since these stories span from as far back as the 18th century into the 21st century.”

The chamber works will be performed by an ensemble of mainly native musicians, with Mark Billy (baritone) and Rachael Youngman (soprano), two singers who are Choctaw citizens; as well as Cherokee citizen Kiegan Ryan (cello) and Isleta Pueblo Michaela Marchi (indigenous percussion); and Benson on violin. In addition, the ensemble will feature BBE co-director Leighann Daihl Ragusa (Native American flute and traverso), Kiyoe Matsuura (violin), and Alecia Valoti (viola).

While composing these pieces, Benson and her mother met up at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, OK, several times in the last year where they visited with other citizens of the tribe. This past summer, they finally danced in a ceremonial stomp dance together at the nation’s nearby grounds. Benson said the trip was life changing for her and helped her become even more connected to her ancestors. “I felt as though I was sharing in this experience with my ancestors across time,” she said.

During a previous trip to the Council Museum in Tishomingo, OK, Benson saw a photograph of Chickasaw women holding violins, guitars, and mandolins at Bloomfield Academy, a Chickasaw-run boarding school that was founded just before the Civil War, where her great-great-great grandmother had married her husband. Benson said when she saw this photograph, she felt it was a full-circle moment, seeing how far back western instruments have been incorporated into Chickasaw life and the parallels with her own life.

This is the third premiere for Benson where her Chickasaw heritage has guided her inspiration for writing music. In 2023, she released an album called Silver Linings, which contained a piece called “Chickasaw Suite.” That same year, she also premiered a longer work called “The Story of Pa I Sha,” a musical narrative designed for a Choctaw vocalist/narrator and a mixture of native and western instruments that highlights four major stories in Benson’s Chickasaw heritage.

“In writing this music for both indigenous and western instruments, I hope in some small way to show that native people can continue to adapt to keep their traditions alive in a western society for generations to come, and to also demonstrate that the native influence is strong on western music. Influence is a two-way street,” Benson says. “I hope audiences really connect with the stories and music, which I feel is one big song.”

EVENT DETAILS

The Bach + Beethoven Experience Presents ‘Songs of The Chickasaws: Epic Tales Told Through Music’

WHEN: Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and March 1 at 4 p.m.

WHERE: The Checkout, 4116 N. Clark St., Chicago

TICKETS: $20.77

INFO: bbexperience.org, https://thecheckout.org/schedu...

About The Bach & Beethoven Experience

Founded in 2010, the Bach & Beethoven Experience brings artists together to collaborate and transform the classical concert experience from a standard passive listening presentation to an interactive experience through classical, folk, indigenous, and new music. Because we feel music is for everyone, our mission is to build community by creating a “come as you are” atmosphere and experience that fosters and encourages a personal connection between the musicians and audiences before, after, and during the performances.

Hailed as “thrilling... charming… performed with such grace… joy and sincerity that a watcher and listener had to be won over" (Bloomington Herald Times), the BBE has performed across the U.S. including at Baroque on Beaver Island Festival, Early Music Academy in Ann Arbor, the Bloomington, Boston, Indianapolis Early Music Festival series, the World Chess Hall of Fame series in St. Louis, BACH series in Champaign Urbana, the Beat Hotel in Boston, the Living Room in New York City, the Goodman Theatre, The Green Mill, Martyrs’, Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, in residency at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and more. The Bach & Beethoven Experience performs about four times a year and has released several albums including “A Gaelic Summer,” “An Appalachian Summer,” “Carols,” and “Chicago Stories the Album.”