These are happy songs inspired by exhaustion, overwhelm, and living with the reality of death. The lyrics are webs of rhymes, puns, and word play in the spirit of rap, mid-career Paul Simon, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Dr. Seuss.

The music blends the colors and nuances of chamber music with the energy and spontaneity of experimental jazz and free improv.

Know Orchestra is a quintet of violin, cello, clarinet, piano, percussion, and voice. We first formed as a trio in 2001 and since then have done projects ranging from in-the-moment settings of Kerouac texts to microtonal music to interactive children’s concerts.

Personnel:

Todd Brunel, Bb and bass clarinet
Gary Fieldman, percussion
Ima Jonsdottir, violin and voice
Valerie Thompson, cello and voice
Dan Shaud, piano and voice