Wyndnwyre entertains audience with Irish tunes
by Jennifer West
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Wyndnwyre, an Irish celtic band, gave their fifth performance at the Bayou Theater March 14. Andrew Reitberger, organizer of the Cultural Arts Series, gave the audience a welcome and a brief biography of the band.

This performance included Bill Klecka, Mark Johnson, Therese Honey and the drumming talents of John Candler, who joins the band on certain performances. The band's instruments include a Celtic harp, hammered dulcimer, Irish flute, guitar, tin whistle, low whistle and other instruments.

Wyndnwyre has been performing for twenty-five years. Dulcimer player Bill Klecka is the only original member. Klecka started playing music in a bluegrass band and evolved into Celtic tunes and harmonies.

"We hope to be back again next year," Klecka said.

Their hour-and-a-half concert at the theater included background information of the songs given by Honey, the band's harp player. The band played a combination of Spanish, Scottish and Celtic harmonies and jigs.

Some of the songs included mixes of medieval and Irish melodies from the 13th to 16th centuries. The band interacted with the audience frequently. During one of their jigs, the band had audience members snapping their fingers to the music. The band, who call themselves a family, joke around like one. The men enjoyed picking on Honey for talking too much.

At one point the other three got up and sat down in the audience, a sign telling Honey to hurry up. When the concert ended, the band got great applause from the audience. Each year, their popularity in the area grows.

Recently, Honey got to sit in with the Chieftans in a concert in Fort Worth. The Chieftains are a famous Celtic band who have been performing since the 1970s and have received international fame.

"It was so exciting," said Honey of the experience.

Reitberger, who coordinates events for Student Life, says they pick acts like Wyndnwyre to give the community a little taste of the arts.

"I like to break down the social barriers," Reitberger said. "We like to show the community and students that cultural events like these aren't stuffy and elitist; everyone can enjoy them."

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