Four Winds News - October 2004
Rehearsal and Events Schedule | NEWS INDEX Page
News items posted to this page are usually edited versions of Member Mailings.
Four Winds News: 13 October 2004
Here's what we've been up to, and what we are planning. First off, the chorus will likely be less active for the next few months, as Choral Director Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone has his hands very full with his ailing mother, currently in hospice care at home. He very much apppreciates all the expressions of prayer and support, and for some of you, you're on the list.
WORKSHOPS
We haven't set up anything for our planned The Bardic Path: Drum & Chant-Songs of Turtle Island.due to the family situaton of Director Kurt and his ailing mother. A lot of stuf is on hold for that. Since we concentrated on Pagan and Afro-Carribean material with our last Our Drum and Chant Workshop, we didn't have time to introduce some of our Native American and Native-Inspired material. So it occurred to us that the next workshop ought to just plain go there. So stay tuned. Details here as soon as we have something for you.
Our Drum and Chant Workshop at MNN Studios, July 10th was recorded for Public Access Television, and will be eventually televised on Richard's The Courage Show, Saturdays 6:00-6:30, on Manhattan Public Access channel 67. Rumor has is that Richard is furiously editiing. And I have seem some for the footage, spiffy!When we know the air date we will post it here and send it out to the E-Lists. Not on the list? Email Us.
NEW YORK PAGAN PRIDE DAY
Survived and enjoyed another Pagan Pride Day in NYC on September 25th, 2004. A handful of Chorus Members kicked in and did a quite credible job with the workshop and the Harvest Ritual that followed. It was good, even though we only had a few of the faithful. Gorgeous day! So a lot of people about. And nice to toss off a ripping version of The Ballad of John Barleycorn at the end of the Jackie Beltaine's Harvest Ritual with a thank you nod to Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention for the arrangement and to Bramn Stewart of Shaman for the Bodhran lessons at Sirius Rising so many moons ago.
Margot Adler was marvelous as ever. With her experiences on NPR, she makes an excellent and articulate and refreshingly SANE speaker.
I was looking forward to being on the lawn in some trees, but we were moved to the Stage.. hot asphalt, but having the mike helped. Was a good time and even though our typical workshop is normally 3 hours.. in the 45 minutesd we had, we gave them a DOSE. Woot.
Missed a couple of people I wanted to see, but all in all a pretty decent day. I am very glad I didn't bail on this in light of the family situation. Having some good old family friends as house guests over the weekend helped more than I can express. And of course Pagan folk seem MUCH more understanding about our desire to hospice Mother at home. And
the feedback we got on our work was VERY positive, and the boys had a good time too. And Alexander even sang and drummed for both the workshop and the ritual. Good lad!Kudos to Elsbeth, Jezibell, Dion, and irregulars/semiactives Emily, Dennis, Anna and Vinny - and anyone I missed! Thank you all!
Keep Singing!
Mitakuye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen * Om
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone
Choral Director
Go to Rehearsal and Events Schedule
Return to NEWS INDEX Page
Return to Top of Page