News items posted to this page are usually edited versions of Member Mailings.
Four Winds News (updated 11 Novemebr 2001)
Notice: Due to the World Trade Center Terrorist Attack, we have postponed the premiere of Inanna: Journey of Darkness and Light, till January 4-6, 2002. View Inanna Flyer page
WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALING CIRCLE
As our planned performance of Inanna got scrubbed, we became aware of the necessity for ceremony and ritual, both for the victims and for those of us left to cope. So on September 15th, the Saturday following the attack, the Chorus and the rest of the Inanna cast and crew assembled to lend our voices as sacred bards in the Enchantment's Courtyard in an open Circle of Healing. The resulting ritual, planned at the previous Thursday's Inanna rehearsal was powerful and moving, and the participants resplendent in red, white and blue.
We don't photograph Ritual. However, we were feeling pretty good just after. Must have worked.
Click on images for larger versions.GROVE SAMHAIN 2001
The Chorus with Joe & Jezebell's Coven and Grove Members presented Grove Samain on October 27th with an almost entirely choral ritual. With the current State of affiars, we prepared for a particularly intense day, complimented by the very moving Norse inspired ritual, complete with Odin, Hel, The Norns and a cast of honored dead. We also absorbed a challenging amount of new material from a wide variety of sources. particularity moving were The Rowan Stave, Jezibell's New ritual son - Helsinging, the classic The Green Fields of France, and Jacques Brel's If We Only Have Love. The Chorus performed magnificently and we are all very proud of the effort everyone put in. It was also, If possible, even colder than last year. SO glad that Grove's season is over.
THE WITCHES BALL 2001
The very Next night, Sunday, October 28th, The 2001 Witches' Ball was held in a new venue, Downtime, replacing the no longer open Wetlands. It seemed a good fit, with separate DJ/ Dance area and separate Live performance area... and... the vendors placed between. Jezibell performed an expended set with Kurt backing the prose and poetry segment with improvisational percussion.
Both Jez and Richard Courage and Four Winds Alumnus Max Santiago placed in costume competition. And showed some class by donating their prizes to the Twin Towers Fund, this years beneficiary of the benefit. Joe once again donned his inquisitor's robes to interrogate and ransom accused Witches and Pagans raising more money for the noble cause.
Kurt later joined organizers and sponsors Lady Zoradia and Lady Rhea of Magickal Realms and members of their group in the Traditional Midnight Ritual, culminating in a floor-spanning spiral dance. An amazing time was had by all.
OUR NEW (used) SOUND SYSTEM
We had a bit of luck in this area. Our dear friend Erika the Harpie Girl was offering her old system for sale. So we were able to acquire a fair amount more system than we would have been able to purchase new with our budget. Between a combination of a few donations, and raiding the fund, did the deal. So we now have a six-channel system instead of a two or four one. Replaced a few missing case screws, tested it and it pretty much fill a a room with sound. We also received the donation of two rather good Samson Mics and cables, so we've ordered another Shure Stage mic and three Mic stands. Should be here within a week and we're good to go, (Mic & stands arrived this week, so we're good to go!- KG 11/8/2001 ) Giveaway V should have better sound overall than previous outings. Of course we'll have to deal with the classic fearful hassle of the dreaded soundcheck.... "tic...tic... hello... is this on? Test. Test. Test..."
DRUM AND SONG WORKSHOP
We hope you will join us for The Many Songs of The Drum. our workshop to bring singers to the drum and the drum to singers. Due to an unfortunate need to book the space well in advance, we are inadvertently scheduled directly opposite New Moon New York's 2001 Pagan Spirituality Expo. No slight was intended, and folks, go where your spirit leads you. We understand. We will have some folks at the expo representing the Chorus,
Earlier this week, we received an email from Jonathan sent to the New Moon Gathering E-List, which included the following.
> Kurt, I am confused why you would schedule a workshop at the same time as PSE?*
> Was it a space problem that made you do so? While I recognize your
> right to schedule your event as you see fit, some might take it be
> mistaken as a slight. Well I do wish you well at your event.(*Pagan Spirituality Expo ) - Kurt
It was NOT done intentionally. It turned out to be a "52 Weekends" problem. In other words, more events to fit in than available weekends. I did realize that we had a conflict after I received the date for PSE. We had to book the space rather far in advance. And we have to make the best of it. No slight is intended. I did, by the way, include the Note below with the original announcement to the New Moon List
> *Note: We regret that we are scheduled opposite this year's Pagan
> Spirituality Expo. It was the luck of the draw and studio availability.
> When we found out about the conflict, we could not re-book the date.Joe and Jezibell will be representing the Chorus for us at the Expo. Regardless, wherever possible, we're going to try to be more meticulous with our planning for 2002.
The Many Songs of the Drum: Uniting the Voice and the Beat
Free Open Workshop, Sunday, November 11, 2001, 1:00-5:00pm
CAP 21 Studios, Studio #10, Collaborative Arts Project, 18 West 18th Street, 6th Floor, NYC.
212 807-0202 Donations gratefully accepted.In this workshop we will be working on dispelling the myth that drummers can't sing. For Drummers seeking their Voice and Singers approaching the Drum. Using the Drum with songs and chants. Understanding the role of the drum in ritual with voice. Training and study exercises. Hands On, Bring your noisemakers.
View/Download Printable PDF File (440k)
With Apologies to New Moon New York, we are unfortunately and unintentionally scheduled opposite their 2001 Pagan Spirituality Expo today. Go where your spirit leads you, we understand.
MEMBERS SOLSTICE GATHERINGSunday, December 16, aft-evening
We picked this date as The Grove Winter Study Group is having Solstice on Saturday. Informal, part party, part bardic, with *just* enough ritual to count. At Kurt and Heather's place in Nanuet. Polite request, please do not double book yourselves (other than work) if you can help it, we were still eating chicken from the 9th last week! Members and their guests only.
Member’s Winter Solstice Gathering
Sunday, December 16, 2001, 1pm till Evening... (or thereabouts)
An informal Winter Holiday get together for Four Winds Members and our guests.Part party, part ritual, part chill out. A chance for our people to relax, celebrate and socialize. Music? Sure! Details will be provided to Members at rehearsals. Members and their guests only. INANNA RESCHEDULED
Friday-Sunday January 4-6 2002
We're beginning to put together a rehearsal schedule for the rescheduled show. The plan is to run them in parallel from the Four Winds General Rehearsals so that those members not involved with the show are not excluded. And we will even try to give the other senior Members something to do. Please see the Schedule Page for the current plans.
POSTPONED
Ritual Theater: Inanna: Journey of Darkness and Light8:00 Friday-Saturday, January 4-5, 2002
3:00 Sunday, January 6, 2002
Musical Theatre Works, Black Box Theatre, Studio #4A, 440 Lafayette Street, 4th Floor, NYC
All Tickets: $10 ( All tickets and reservations from September 14-16 will be honored )
Information & Reservations: Joe or Jezibell: 212 592-9053, jezibell@earthlink.comAn expanded version of Jezibell's very successful Descent of Inanna, an evening of all original ritual theatre with song, chant and dance. Something very different and powerful. A Bardic retelling of the ancient Sumerian myth. Featuring Members of Four Winds Earth Chorus, The Messengers of Doum and Enchantments Teaching Grove.
View Inanna Flyer page | View/Download Printable PDF File (356k)
GIVEAWAY V (update 11/11/2001)Firday, April 12, 2002
We're looking at putting up the next Giveaway Concert in the spring, and have just booked MTW for the event. We are back in the BlackBox at MTW again, a thankfully afforable and versatile space. We're considering an "up" theme... possibly Jesters, Fools and Coyote, like the riotous workshop we did. Hope to have Wolf Spirit Drum Circle and the Realies again. We're looking for ideas, so start warming up that grey stuff.
Giveaway V: Jesters, Fools and Coyote
Free Concert with Four Winds and FriendsSaturday, April 13, 2002, 6:30-9:00pm (Stage Call for Members: 6;00pm)
Musical Theater Works, Black Box Theatre, Studio #4A, 440 Lafayette Street, 4th Floor, NYC
Theater: 212 677-0040 - Free - Donations Gratefully AcceptedThe next installment of our Giveaway Concert Series. As we skate past April Fools, we shall counter the seriousness of the times by leting out some of our, shall we say, less formal material. So... prepare yourself for funny bits, satire, goofy stuff, and as usual, some surprises.And when your're not looking, we'll slip in somthing real. What do you expect from Loki, Monkey and Coyote? See you there!
HONOR SONGS
Winter, Spring, etc. 2002 - Ongoing Project
Considering current events, this seemed a natural for our next recording project. Advances in technology means we can do good quality One-off of CDs now at low costs. So an opportunity, to serve our Community as Bards. Want to collect inspiring , honoring, and spiritually uplifting stuff. But this time, the recording will be built as a series of mini projects as opposed to one big mega project. This would also also allow us to build the recording on a track by track basis, involving Members as needed or by availability.This project would also be open to some guest artists and Chorus alumnae contributing. Proceeds past production costs would be donated to one of the relief charities. Ian the Pierced one has offer the used of his freshly enhanced recording facilities and looks like the project is more than Feasible.
That's just where we are. Hope to see you all our Members past and present, friends and fans soon. And feedback, questions, thoughts are very welcome.
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone
Choral Director
Mitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen * Om
