Composer Robin Eschner captured the history and culture of the North Shore dog sled community in her CRAZY, COLD, BEAUTIFUL song cycle, which was performed in concert at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais on February 5.
The community gathered at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Friday, February 5 for the world premiere of CRAZY, COLD, BEAUTIFUL, a series of 17 songs written to remember and honor the history and culture of sled dog racing on Minnesota’s North Shore.
Many of the voices that join in song for the annual community Christmas concert were heard again, as well as the voices of students from Sawtooth Elementary School. Concert-goers were welcomed by drum song, offered by the Stonebridge Singers of Grand Portage, a moving and fitting beginning of the concert that also honored legendary Ojibwe 19th century mail carrier John Beargrease.
CRAZY, COLD, BEAUTIFUL was composed by Robin Eschner, a 2104 McKnight Foundation Visiting Composer. Eschner lives in California, but as the recipient of the McKnight composer’s award, spent time in Minnesota to “pursue a self-designed community residency project.”
Eschner proposed a “song cycle” about dog sledding and about John Beargrease. She immersed herself in all things winter; all things mushing. She visited the Cook County Historical Society and the library. She met makers of dog sleds. She followed the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. She visited North Shore mushers Frank Moe and Colleen Wallin and others. And she spent an afternoon as a musher on the trails with Matt Groth of Grand Marais Sled Dog Adventures.
Her research became CRAZY, COLD, BEAUTIFUL, an amazing collaboration between the Take Jack ensemble of Sonoma, California and the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra of Grand Marais, directed by William Beckstrand.
The performance was a wonderful blending of voices, young and old; of classical chorale and folk guitar; with gentle melodies and thoughtful lyrics; all telling the story of John Beargrease and the crazy, cold, beautiful life of northern Minnesota.
After the world premiere in Grand Marais, there was another performance in Duluth on Saturday, February 6 at the Sacred Heart Music Center. Eventually the stunning song cycle will be performed at a West Coast premiere on March 19.
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