St. Gabriel’s Church will host the premier concert of four string quartets entitled “The
Four Winds” written by local composer Ronald Wisner on July 25 at 7:30 pm at St. Gabriel’s Church, 124 Front St., Marion. The concert celebrates the community’s
connection to the sea after the isolation during Covid.
Ukraine is in the middle of a humanitarian crises. The entire proceeds from the concert will go to the benefit of Ukraine refugees, now totaling over 4.5 million and growing.
The theme of the four quartets, “East,” “West,” “North” and “South” is the South Coast’s shared connection to sailing, the sea and life in this seafaring region, including the perils of New Bedford fisherman and beyond, both past and present.
The titles of the sixteen movements, four in each quartet, include references to those perils, such as death at sea and the first voyages of the Vikings. One movement describes the antics of the shearwater, the pelagic bird who spends its entire life offshore skimming the waves.
Mr. Wisner, 67, a sailor and local businessman, manufactured large-format cameras, optics and the famous Polaroid 20×24 instant camera. He studied music theory, composition and music history at Hartt College of Music.
Jenny Memoli, the gifted violinist and graduate of Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University and member of the New Bedford Symphony, who is also a sailor, was the composer’s consultant during the yearlong composition of the quartets. Ms. Memoli will be the first violin in the quartet.
Donations can be made to “St Gabriel’s Episcopal Church” with the notation “Ukrainian Concert Benefit” on your check. Mail to 124 Front St, Marion, MA 02738, PO Box 545. All donations and tickets are tax deductible. Tickets will be available on-line at www.eventbrite.com on May 1, and advanced tickets are available by calling St. Gabriel’s Church at 508 748-1507.