Four Winds News - 3 November 2003
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Four Winds News: 3 November 2003
Been a while since the last serious update, so a lot to catch up on. Read on!
PAGAN PRIDE DAY 2003 & HALLOWEEN.
BIG Kudos to all of the Members who turned up and sang at Battery Park for Pagan Pride Day on Saturday September 27th. Most Particularly Elsbeth, Erica, Emily, Jodi and even the folks who turned up a little late and just hung for Drum Circle. I have been informed the the work of the singers and drummers was appreciated and helped to make the Harvest Ritual an energetic success.
Based on the success of this event, the Pagan Pride Day organizers were asked to make a ritual/musical presentation for the Theatre of The New City, on Halloween Night, following the Village Halloween Parade. So Pagan Pride is showing! A few "irregular" Members turned up to help out with that event as well. (Alas, I was required to be a parent and assist in "secular" Halloween festivities that evening!-KG)
ROCK OF THE AGES MUSIC FESTIVAL AT St. PAUL THE APOSTLE'S
Our performance at St. Paul the Apostle's Rock of The Ages Interfaith Music Festival on November 1st was one of the most enjoyable events we've participated in the past year. When we accepted the invitation to this event, we did not know exactly what to expect. But due to the good reaction and rush we got from the AIDS Interfaith Memorial this Summer, it seemed like a fun possibility, and the event precisely fit in with the Chorus's outreach mission. So we said "yes", gathered a clump of Members, hammered out a play list, and squeaked in a hurried rehearsal schedule to see what we could bring.
St Paul's is a big, beautiful, calm and sacred space, with acoustics that just blow the mind. We were impressed with warming up down in the Auditorium... the church space was beyond awesome! The organizers and staff were very warm, welcoming, supportive and helpful. And it was a huge blessing to not be involved with all the logistic details of a major event.and just sing! The space is truly amazing, and a joy to sing in! At times, having our voices coming back at us from the walls and arched ceiling with amazing resonance was a little disconcerting!
We were part of an amazing 12 Choruses, Choirs and musical ensembles from throughout the tri-state area, so we were in some pretty amazing company!
St. Anthony’s Chruch Gospel Choir
The New Life Music Ministry
Four Winds Earth Chorus
The Daughters of St. Paul Choir
Stony Brook Gospel Choir
Tibetan Bhuddhist Sacred Music & Chanting
New Amsterdam Boy's Choir & Ensemble TOKI
Jerriese Johnson East Village Gospel Choir of Middle Collegiate Church
The New York Madrigal Ensemble
Bach Choir of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Joseph Simmons & Laurence Rosania
The St. Paul Singers
A rather intense rehearsal experience paid off with good renditions of some faves and a few new pieces. We shared Thunder Beings, Spider Woman, My Lady D'Abranville, I Am Stretched On Your Grave, Angel of Bells, Medicine Bear / Bear Song, and Chi Mi Na Morbhenna. And amazingly, they all were done in a good way and with joy. Big big nod to Richard, Athena, Carola, Alexandria, Jezibell and Paula who turned out for this one. Thank you all for the hard work and especially putting it all together very well in such short notice! Pilamaye! I was particularly concerned with Medicine Bear / Bear Song, since it is a somewhat complex arrangement fusing Native and African Rhythms. We haven't pulled this one off in front of people since Thunder left the tri-state area. So I am well pleased
Like any of the Directors there, was hyper aware of every tiny thing, but there were no train wrecks, not apologies on stage... and the audience seemed to genuinely enjoy the set and we got really good feedback and comments, and a likely invitation to return next year. Outstanding! Glitches aside, I am STILL well pleased. The Order of St. Paul's has a history of ecumenical and Interfaith outreach, and I find it interesting that the two best things we did this year have been the interfaith events, this and the AIDS Memorial. Apparently, there is something sacred and powerful that comes from manifesting the mission of the Chrous in sacred space and service. And we had a BLAST! And the Tibetan material was totally amazing, when the horns stopped, had to bring my brain back from someplace around the ring plane of Saturn... I was able to stay for most of the day and the many groups I was able to hear were simply wonderful, and a wondrous vareity of musical styles and cultural traditions. It's a good feeling to stand with these people and be told you are found worthy. Also told we were special and unique an brought a singular energy to the day.
And this came about due to a listing on the web space Vocal Area Network. Something I did years ago. Apparently our unique mission and material caught the eye of the organizers who thought we were rather special. Banzai!
BARDIC CIRCLES
Our monthly Bard ic Circles have turned out to be a blessing for the Chorus, a chance to just "play" without worrying over much about play list, concerts, schedule and events and let our hair down and just have a good time. We are hosting our last one for the 2003 season in November, taking a little down time for the Winter Holidays, and we expect to be back in January.
OPEN BARDIC CIRCLE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20
7:00-9:00pm, CAP 21 Studios, Studio #7, 212 807-0202
Collaborative Arts Project, 18 West 18th Street, 6th Floor, NYCAll Members, Visitors and Guests welcome. Open Bard ic Circle in the "Pick, Play or Pass" or other informal format. We'll be singing whatever the heck we feel like. Bring your faves, bring your noisemakers! This will be the last public Bardic of the 2003 Season, we are taking December off for the holidays.
Donation towards room rental requested.
MEMBER'S WINTER SOLSITCE GATHERING
I have ZERO interest in sponsoring a public Yule or Solstice event after the stressful trials of last year and the toll it took on the Members. But Heather and I planning another informal event here at the house for Four Winds Members past and present and their guests. The last time we did this was very successful and everyone had a good time. People have said that they prefer the weekend of Dec 27, 28 (the "in between" weekend during the Holiday break) over Solstice Weekend - Dec 20-21, and it looks like we leaning towards Saturday the 27th so people can hang without worrying about work on Monday.
Yes, there WILL be music and singing and some ritual - even if we make it up on the spot!
MEMBER'S SOLSTICE GATHERING
SATURDAY or SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 or 28
Midday till we get tired!, The Griffith's, Nanuet, NYA Bardic "relax-a-circle" for Four Winds Members and their guests. hang, Sing, Drum, a little bit of ceremony and bid 2003 a fond farewell. More information as we settle in on planning, (Yes, we're leaning towards Saturday)
Members and their guests only please.
AND FORWARD...?
There has been some interest in Teaching Circles, particularly for drumming, if there is interest we could be convinced to host one or more of our well received workshops. We didn't do this in the fall, to prepare for St' Paul's, but we haven't forgotten about this and will be thinking about 2004. If you or your group has an interest.in a teaching on things Bardic please let us know.
There is of course a downside. While I am feeling good about the Chorus after a very good day at St Paul's, I still have to worry about the Chorus' future as a whole. After the upheavals of 9/11 and the very brutal economic situation in the New York tri-state areas following, the past two years have been unkind to the viability of the Chorus. While a smaller group is easier to run, it is NOT cost effective, and Member tithes and guest contributions have NOT met expenses by a fair margin. Finding cheaper rehearsal spaces helps, but the low current numbers are not encouraging. At the moment, we are a bit under a hundred dollars in the hole. However, I must commend the Membership, our last rehearsal at Harlequin was the first time we met the rent in a long time. Washite! Pilamaye!
In addition, some of the background "static", in the NYC Community of Spirit, which I won't go into here, does leak into the Chorus a bit and adds to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. I am maintaining my position that this is an open organization, where Members and friends can come and go as their time and energy dictates. The door shall stand open to each and every one of you. But I must insist, please leave any stuff from outside Chorus at the door and allow us to get on with the work, and the joy.
Over the past two years, my family and myself have made a considerable personal investment in keeping the Chorus going, most significantly in meeting the budget gap. The Chorus has been running conspicuously in the red for over a year now. Tex-decuctable not withstanding, it does rather pinch. Never forget that this is a volunteer enterprise for all participants. But I would be very interested in hearing any and all suggestions towards making Four Winds vibrant, viable, enjoyable, self-sustaining and relevant. Your thoughts are more than welcome.
I still very much believe in our Mission and want it to continue. Many people have told me that they feel the same way. Well, if that is so, perhaps it is time to put your time and resources where your convictions are and convince me (OK, convince me again... ) to keep this sacred enterprise going.
Mitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen * Om
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone
Choral Director
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