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Four Winds News 10 February 2002
INANNA PLAYS TO SUCCESSFUL 3-DAY RUN
Inanna Cast and Crew - January 3, 2001 - We think we might be ready!
With a three day run from Friday, January 4th thru Sunday, January 4-6, 2002, in conjunction with Members of the Enchantments' Grove and Coven Kyklos ton Asterion, Four Winds supported the Ritual Musical Theatre Production of Inanna: Journey of Darkness and Light, performing two evenings and one matinee show. Despite the challenges of learning and rehearsing 95% new material, the four month postponement following the WTC Disaster, and cast changes, Illnesses and injuries, we somehow managed to put up a very successful production. Our surprisingly full audiences had a good time and had good things to say about the show. Apparently the mythic tale of the rise, fall and rebirth of Inanna had some appeal.
In addition to Jezibell in the title role as Inanna, not to mention author, director, producer and choreographer, several Chorus Members also too one the challenge of roles in the play. Alithalia as Inanna's companion Nimshubur, Richard as Dimuzi, the Shepherd King, Rob Zagulski as Isimud, companion to Father Enki. And absolutely stunning as the Queen of the Great Below, our own Elsbeth. This of course required them all to Act, Sing and Dance (sometimes a LOT), and Rob drummed too! Who SAYS we don't cross-train! A special mention must go to Erica Bonilla, who filled in for the Illness suffering Musical Supervisor and Guitarist Paula Reich on the solo for ascent and did a great job with virtually no notice.
Plenty kudos to the Grove and Coven Members and other irregulars who pitched in with singing, stage help, costumes and technical support. We would be extremely pleased and proud to have each and every one of them singing in the Chorus as regular Members.
We are in the process of attempting an original cast recording, so far titled Inanna: The Music. We may very well have an opportunity to perform Inanna at the New York Fringe Festival. Stay tuned. We are doing this on a relative shoestring but trying to maintain good quality. We have received an amazing loan of a digital 4-track and preamp by irregular Member Danielle. Boss BR-532 Digital Studio. Combined with Kurt's ruby iMac DV, a quite good mic, and some quite amazing audio software; we've actually been able to put together some rather credible recordings. This is of course combined with a lot of work, a lot of individual and group sacrifice and a LOT of manual-reading. Its required us to rapidly acquire new skills, and is much more time consuming than we had imagined.
For people starting off in these kinds if projects. Must highly recommend Pro Tools Free by DigiDesign. VERY capable software, used for digital recording, and mixing. And yes, it IS a troll to upgrade to the full version that incredibly does even MORE stuff. I barely have scratched what it DOES do! Also used the simpler and rather neat Felt Tip Sound Studio, used for a bit of post processing. This software, some free and some shareware made some things possible that either would not have been, or would have cost BIG BUCKS. I try to imagine what this would have taken on reel-to-reel and get nauseous!
Click smalls for full size images - Left: Scary Numbers; Right: Working in DigiDesigns ProTools Free
If we're not too exhausted by all this—we may attempt to put together a cleaner version suitable for sale. But I suspect that will mean several more trips to the microphone! If you're interested, please let us know. Contact Four Winds
Now do you understand that why its been over a month since our last update!
CAPO VERDE/CAFE SANTIAGOGalana, a former Member, is beginning a music business which includes the periodic entertainment at an uptown nook called Capo Verde/Cafe Santiago. We were invited to perform and with very short notice and some complications getting our team into what turned out to be a rather pleasant, but intimate space. However we did well, the crowd enjoyed us and we're returning for another set President's Day Monday, February 18th. Show up. Cheer. Buy a cup of really good coffee.
If all continues to go well, we may have a monthly gig to show of at and try out some of the odds and ends we don't get to let out that often. In addition, due to her willingness to be drafted and survive, Sue Sylvester has earned a spot in the Bards Circle, our senior performing team. Welcome!
( 3.4.2002 ) Februarys gig wert OK, even with a bit of a logistics glitch. Lets hear it for the MTA... NOT. So we'll be back on March 18th. Since it's the day after St Patricks's day. Well see about bringing some of our celtic material.
Four Winds Cafe Concert
Folk & Filk Mondays at Capo VerdeMonday, March 18, 2002, 8:00pm
589 Fort Washington Avenue @ 187th Street , NYC
Cafe Santiago: 212 543-9888 - Galana Music: 718 404-3900 x 2888Taking our show on the road for a set of our classic, seasonal and fun material in an intimate fun setting with cool food and great coffee. Hope you can be there!! Our first two outings here were successful enough that we are invited back. Hopefully every forth Monday.
GIVEAWAY V (update 2/8/2001)Friday, April 12, 2002
We're going to be putting up the next Giveaway Concert in the spring, and have booked MTW for the event. We are back in the BlackBox at MTW again, a thankfully affordable and versatile space. We're polishing up an the "up" theme... Jesters, Fools and Coyote, based on the riotous 2000 workshop we did. Hope to have Wolf Spirit Drum Circle and the Realies or Ericka again. We already have some truly silly contributions of material, and we already have some surprises lined up for you. Look out for Drunken Pagan, and The Banana Boys and other crazed gonzo silly stuff. But we're still looking for ideas, so keep that gray stuff warmed up.
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 letting 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 you're not looking, we'll slip in something real. What do you expect from Loki, Monkey and Coyote? See you there!
UPCOMINGIn addition to the Cafe Santiago/Capo Verde and Giveaway V, here's what's on our horizon. Details will come when we get then and posted to the Schedule Page. And keep checking back with us, things always come up.
AIDS Interfaith Memorial Service - Saturday June 1, 2002
We have been invited by the organizers of this event, to provide drumming and musical representation of Earth Religion. Sponsored by the Names Project and Q*GLU, Queens Gays & Lesbians United, Inc.Grove Bardic Ritual - Saturday, June 8, 2002
Enchantment's Grove, NYC
We will be returning to Enchantment's Grove to support their annual Bardic Ritual, This event introduces the ritual use of the Bardic Arts in a working ritual. Free and open to the public. We have been here many years and always a good time and spiritually uplifting. Details to come.Pagan Band Night, Summer 2002
We don't have much about this yet, but we hope to join a bunch of pagan fork for a band night. Could be a blast. Stay tuned.Pagan Pride Day, Saturday, September 28, 2002
Kurt's situation with getting relocated and schedule conflicts prevented us from participating last year. But we were invited again and are inclined to accept. So make your prayers for good weather.
HONOR SONGS
Ongoing Project - Updated Feb 2002
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. Our experience so far with the Inanna Recording Project have shown this to be at least in the realm of the possible (see above). Ian the Pierced One has offer the used of his freshly enhanced recording facilities and looks like the project is more than Feasible. Of course the Inanna recording Project has also pushed this work well past Giveaway V, so it goes.So an opportunity, to serve our Community as Bards. We 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 alumni contributing. Proceeds past production costs would be donated to one of the relief charities.
Ant that's more or less where we are now. Hope to see 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
