Four Winds News - 13 May 2003
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Four Winds News: 13 May 2003
GIVEAWAY VI
We had a very good time and the Chorus performed very well at GIVEAWAY VI: BELTANE*MOTHER on Sunday, May 11th... yes, Mother's Day. The combination of the date, weather and the economy kept the crowd small, but those in attendance had a good time. Big thanks to those of you who invited your Mothers to the show! When we work very hard on an event, the applause is very gratifying. It is also a great feeling to execute well material we love, but may have been struggling with. And also trot out some of our old favorites that we haven't had a chance to show off in a while. A lovely bonus, Athena's gentleman, Russ, recorded the session on his rather well appointed rig and we may come away with a good recording of the day. For those up you who had to miss it for family obligations, you missed one of our good ones!
I want to give particular thanks to Jezibell, Lady May & The Bel-tanes, Athallia, Stephanie Siemion, Joe "the Klingon" Zuchowski for adding their voices and energy to the event. It really rounded out and broadened the lineup and content with very well received, yet, theme-appropriate diversity. I am proud to say that while it was not a perfect show, it was a very good show, nothing crashed, and nothing suked! Huzzah!
Lady May & The Bel-tanes- Sue, Athena, Alexandria, Athallia, Emily and Stephanie were truly quite astonishing in a lively tribute to the goddess in their incarnations as a 60's-era girl groups. They blessed us with The Shoop Shoop Song, This is Dedicated to The One I Love, and Big Yellow Taxi. I am particularly pleased with the confidence of our younger members in finding their voices. And a special thank you to Sue, who brought this forward with huge determination and was in addition largely responsible for helping the chorus gather the will to produce G6, and contributing many ideas as well, while I was decidedly ambivalent following the stress of facilitating Yule. Pilamaye, kola!
Stephanie performed a solo set of two of her own pieces. And even while short, the piano number Fly Away was a particularly evocative tribute to the fallen souls of the World Trade Center.
Athallia was stunning in A Dance Offering, with a packed short set of Middle Eastern dance. Executed with grace, energy, sensuality and confidence. Jezebell worked the other side of the Goddess Yin/Yang with selections from Charge of the Dark Goddess including the amusingly twisted, The Undead Dance. Joe led us into our closing set with a spirited version of Isaac Bonewits' Black Velvet Band with Jez portraying the Goddess role.
Charge of the Dark Goddess is Jezibell's latest recording, released Spring 2003, available directly from Jez at www.joeandjezibell.com. Featuring a collection of 13 original pieces celebrating the Power of the Dark Feminine.
We made the audience sing Fanga with, in a tribute to Master Drummer and Teacher, Babatunde Olatunji. All in all, a good time. We may even be able to get some pictures up here real soon now... Thanks to Heather who remembered to bring along our digital camera. The only downside, is that the lean audience meant rather lean total donations, so the Four Winds treasury is now rather flat after expenses paid.
QUEENS AIDS MEMORIAL
We have accepted an invitation to participate in the annual Queens AIDS Memorial this summer. It was very powerful to represent Earth Religion at this interfaith event. Saturday May, 31. We will bring out some interfaith material this time around and share some ritual duties in the service itself with Wiccan activist/Singer Wendy Moscow.
Queens Interfaith AIDS Memorial
Saturday, May 31, 2002, 7:30pm
Community Methodist Church, 81-10 35th Avenue , Jackson Heights, Queens, NYWe once again be representing the community of Earth Spirituality at this event. We will be joining a a gathering of spiritual leaders and musical celebrants from Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Wiccan Traditions to remember and retell and celebrate the lives of those who are infected by HIV/AIDS. A celebration of life, not simply a ritual of mourning.
Last year's event turned out to be one of the most powerful and fulfilling moments of our 2002 season, we are delighted to be invited back. No faith involvement is necessary to participate in the memorial. This is a ceremony open to all, and all that is requested is your presence.
We will be continuing our monthly Open Bardic Circle, as regular feature for the Third Thursdays of of the month, next up, Thursday May 22. This has turned out to be a blessing for the Chorus, a chance to just "play" without worrying over much about playlist, concerts, schedule and events and let our hair down and just have a good time.,
OPEN BARDIC CIRCLES, THURSDAYS, MAY 22, JUNE 19
7:00-9:00pm, CAP 21 Studios, Studio #4, 212 807-0202
Collaborative Arts Project, 18 West 18th Street, 6th Floor, NYCAll Members, Visitors and Guests welcome. Open Bardic Circle in the "Pick, Play or Pass" or other informal format. We'll be singing whatever the heck we feel like. Bring your faves! Donation towards room rental requested.
Note: Member's Business Sessions - 9:00-9:30
Summers tend to be thin for us, and Grove/coven very busy. After the AIDS Memorial, we will most likely ease back to a leaner schedule, perhaps the Bardic plus one rehearsal meeting a month to focus on our material. Unless of course, we get invited to perform somewhere! So we'll see!
Mitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen * Om
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone
Choral Director
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