News items posted to this page are usually edited versions of Member Mailings.
Four Winds News: 18 February 2000
Oasis CD (www.oasiscd.com) has selected Four Nations Song to be included on their upcoming Oasis World Music Compilation Disc #3. It is about to go into production and we are told the disc should be ready sometime in the spring.
Since a number of people have asked. WeÕve been adding sound clips to the 5 Year Project Page. Enjoy!
Greetings everybody!
For openers, happy Valentines Day, and I hope everybody has enjoyed our annual celebration of Cupid, Eros and Aphrodite.
Ritual Druming Workshop
Saturday, February 12
I want to thank everybody who came out to support our RITUAL DRUMMING WORKSHOP on Saturday, February 12th. It was quite a success and our efforts were sincerely appreciated. It was also nice to see some folks who have been kinda strangers lately. Good to see ya! Due to the level of group intention and focus among the Grove and Winter Study group folks, we were able to provide a workshop at about twice the density and level of intensity that we usually are able to with beginners. All in all an excellent afternoon.
Magic Mountain Music 2000
Got some good news earlier this week, I received our *contract* for MAGIC MOUNTAIN MUSIC at Four Quarters Farm www.4qf.org. So I guess we're in. And in addition to being their guests at the farm, along with the meal plan, we are receiving the travel allowance I requested and get this... in addition to the workshops we are getting a MAIN STAGE slot. Whoo hoo! At Thursdays rehearsal the consensus of the assembled was to sign, so we're going on th' road in June!. So If you want a voice in the council and planning, better start showing up..
MAGIC MOUNTAIN MUSIC 2000 (INVITED)
FRIDAY JUNE 3-SUNDAY JUNE 4, 2000 , Four Quarters Farm
Church of Four Quarters, RR1, Box 62C, Artemis, PA. 17211 Info: 814 784-3075 www.4qf.orgFour Winds has been invited to perform and provde workshops at this just plain amazing and well regraded pagan music festival weekend in a very special setting. An entire weekend devoted to a celebration of our own music. We have always wanted to do this event!
Complete information at the Four Quarters Farm website. www.4qf.orgPeforming Member Status
That brings me to the next subject... I know that some of you have had serious incursions of LIFE the past two months. But attendance at rehearsals has been pathetic.. Much of the performance polish that we had as a group at Witches ball and Solstice is eroded away and we do have events in the pipe. I am not planning in any way to haul us out to Four Quarters, people who I respect and whose opinions I care about and go on their stage and SUCK.
So, as of the last rehearsal, we are making a change in our qualification requirements for Performing Member Status. The bar for automatic inclusion as Performing Members is now going to be 75% or three out of every four meetings. Those Active or Semiactive Members who do not meet this requirement must be approved by a CONSENSUS DECISION OF THE CURRENT PERFORMING MEMBERS. Yes, I am giving up some of my authority in this matter, but I feel it is appropriate. Many of you due to commitments, literally CAN'T make the direct requirement. But you can still impress your Sisters and Brothers that you have been working hard and know the material. But we need to encourage those of you who like to go out on stage, but don't care to come to rehearsals or study on you own that we're for real and are going to try to maintain better standards. Active and Semiactive Membership will remain as flexible as ever. Any Member may still come out and sing and work out with us. As often as you have time for. But you may not be permitted onstage in the next Performance event. There are VERY few of you who can skip out for months and drop back into the performance arc a couple of weeks out from an event. Those days are over. there have been some bad feelings about allowing people who didn't measure up onstage in the past.
If you take our work seriously, and show respect to the Chorus; you'll get REAL and put in the sweat if you want this. While MAGIC MOUNTAIN MUSIC is on the horizon, we do have JESTERS, FOOLS AND COYOTE and THE GROVE BARDIC coming up. Members who participate in these events will have priority for inclusion in MMM.
BARDIC RITUAL & TEACHING CIRCLE
SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2000 , Enchantent s Grove
Courtyard at Enchantments, 341 East 9th Street, NY, Info : 212 228-4394Four Winds Earth Chorus has for most of our existence provided Choral Suport for a Bardic Ritual and Teaching Circle for the Grove Students. 2000 will be no exception.
GROVE BARDIC SONGLIST
Heartbeat of the Earth *NEW* (by Grove w 4W support)
The Earth Is My Body/Earth My Body
Isaac's/Real Magic's Quarter Calling Medley of Mother of Darkness *NEW*,
Goddess Chant, and We All Come from the Goddess
Bright Sun, Dark Death *NEW* (by Grove w 4W support)
Morrigan's Children
Medicine Bear/Bear Song
The Dagda's Club
This Witch Is Not for Burning
The Magician and the High Priestess
Barge of Heaven
* Open Bardic * ( if you have anything special, bring it)
Isaac's/Real Magic's Quarter Farewell
Four Nations SongRehearsal on MARCH 7th is also House Mother (and boss man's main squeeze) Heather's Birthday... any thoughts?
On MARCH 11th will be our Sixth Anniversary. What shall we do about it? Happens to fall on a Saturday, so we have a few options.
Kurt Talking Stone
Choral Director
WE EACH SEND A VOICE:
5 Years of Celebration in Song,
Chant & Rhythm • 1994-1999We Officially released We Each Send A Voice; 5 Years of Celebration in Song, Chant & Rhythm • 1994-1999. On October 31, for Samhain/Halloween. We are still pretty psyched! The discs and tapes came out unbelievably spiffy. WeÕve shipped preorders, sold at events and have been revceiving a steady trickle of online orders. Thank you so much to everyone who has given this project their suport and enouragement.
Check out the Official Press Release
WE EACH SEND A VOICE:
Five Years of Celebration in Song,
Chant and Rhythm
CDs and TAPES NOW AVAILABLEPrices: CDs: $15.00, Tapes: $10.00
Anybody who is interested in distributing this recording, please contact us at:
718 373-8987, khgriffith@worldnet.att.net or by mail to
Four Winds Earth Chorus, 4114 Seagate Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224-12339.
Mitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen