“militakwat” pronounced mill-e-duh-kwut is the Penobscot word for “it has all kinds of sounds” and is Firefly’s orchestral debut. A historic collaboration between the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Arranger/Orchestrator Ben McNaboe and Firefly, this 3 part movement is rooted in ancient Wabanaki music and was the first collaboration between a Wabanaki person and the Bangor Symphony since it was founded in 1896. This original piece World Premiered at the Collins Center for the Arts, University of Maine, Orono and was performed as part of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s “Ode to Joy”season finale on April 30th, 2023.  Firefly joined maestro Lucas Richman, a full orchestra, 138 choral singers comprised of the University of Maine Singers Euphony, Orono’s Chamber Choir and the Oratorio Society and performed to a sold out hall. 

For this performance, Firefly and wife Donna Decontie-Brown created the coat he is wearing. It is a representation of Wabanaki woodland lichen in early spring and the renewal of light, sound and abundance. Handcrafted in torched silk/poly blend, velvet, jersey and accented with glass beads and metal bells, this jacket creates a rustling and ringing soundscape when it is worn. 

pre-concert talk