Playing from Spirit: Traditional and Contemporary Music and Stories on the Native American Flute

This program of music and stories begins with an introduction of William as a native adoptee, an explanation of his native name, heritage, and background. William explains how he came to start playing the Native flute after working as a musician and in the music business well into his adult life, when he had my indigenous heritage confirmed. He then describes the songs he plays with a story about how they are used by the nation they came from, or, in the case of his compositions, how the songs came to him.

The songs William plays are either traditional to certain nations or inspired by native culture and beliefs, or from nature. He discusses how the flute is only used by certain nations (tribes) and how it might be used in their individual cultures. He demonstrates how the flute works and compares it to other more familiar instruments, so the audience has a frame of reference. Throughout this presentation, William will take questions from all ages in the audience and work them into his talk.

William plays a variety of native songs that he has been given permission to play or that are available through common usage and explains each one’s importance. He may also play some contemporary music to show the instrument’s versatility and its limitations. Some of William's compositions that will be presented in this presentation are specific to native themes, including the two documentary films he scored, The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell and Chief Ouilmette (Wilmette).