News items posted to this page are usually edited versons of Member Mailings.
Four Winds News: 18 August 1999 -Updated 22 August
Hail! Hail! Freeeeakin' Hail!,
Still buzzin' from last Saturday where we laid down the final tracks for what we intend to be WE EACH SEND A VOICE: Five Years of Celebration in Song, Chant and Rhythm 1994-1999 our first recording project. Here's what went down.
RECORDING PROJECT SESSION 3
The planets managed to stay in alignment. On Saturday the 14th we traveled with the team up to Blair Ferrier's studio in West Point to get the last tracks on the recording down. And yes, that would be the United States Military Academy Band, your tax dollars at work! With the exception of the small group that went up to Starwood a few years back, this was be our first Official Road Trip! By putting a little more pressure on the team, we got launched only 20 minutes after the announced time! Things are looking up! Thankfully Lynne, and her much needed car, was delayed in traffic and we didn't leave Athena behind, who walked up just as Lynne pulled over.
It was a very powerful and wonderful day. I was particularly grooved by a moment when we were "in the pocket" in the middle of a take. With Thunder's drum at my right, I looked left down the "crescent" and saw the entire team leaning into the mikes, all focused on the song and on doing a good job, acting as one. It was fantastic. It was also relly cool to work in a fully equipped BIG studio, with access to the control booth with the DAT decks and instant feedback on the takes.
With luck, focus and the help of the Spirits, we got down everything we had on our "to-do" list. With Phase One (Recording) done we can move on to the Production Phase. While Blair works on the mastering, we hope to get all our graphics and liner stuff together. We hope to go to discmaking in September and have product for Samhain. Towards that end, pre-orders are trickling in and we're getting some pledges from Investors to help fiance the production costs. So far we have over $150 in preorders and pledges for over $300 and possibly more. We're all probably gonna hit up our friends. heh-heh!
See the July 10th News pages about Preordering CD or Tapes. and also our plans and proposals for financing producing the recording. We now have a PREORDER PAGE on the site. So check it out!
WE EACH SEND A VOICE:
Five Years of Celebration in Song, Chant and Rhythm
CDs and TAPES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDERINGPreorder Prices: CDs: $10.00 Reg.$15 Tapes: $6.00 Reg.$10
Click here to Preorder CD.s & Tapes
We have been working on our designs for the CD/Tape packaging. That's been fun. We've settled down on a final design. Now it's time to get busy with all the nit-pickin' details. If you want a peek, check out:
http://www.imagecraft.com/fourwinds/Discov1.html
Next on deck is for Kurt and possibly a couple of trusted ears to return to West Point for a Mixing and Mastering Session on Sunday August 29. If it all goes well, we'll have the raw material for our CD-R masters and we can go to Phase III, Production and Manufacturing. Hoefully we have recorded enough material to let us throw away tack or two that we're not happy with and still have a good product.
Supporting this, we'll be also start working on promotion of the project. Cultivating Preorders and investors, and also possible FUNd-raising activities.
TWILIGHT BARD & BLACK BEAR'S HANDFASTING
We didn't end up at the beach due to rain, but we turned out for Twilight Bard's & Black Bear's Handfasting on Sunday, August 8th. After a little transportation drama, we arrived on the scene at the alternate indoor location and sang with great joy and conviction to the very fine and Heartfelt Ritual presented by Jezibel & Joe Z. We were very warmly recieved and thanked profusely. We even received a generous honorarium which is going right into the CD production fund! A very good day for all! Possibly the most heartwarming, beyond the event itself, was the small horde of kids present including yours truly's in happy contrast to many NY area Pagan events!
THE GROUP DYNAMIC
With discussion and brainstorming over e-mail and face to face, we are addressing our or challenges as a group. We are sincerly making a real effort to make the Four Winds "Member Experience" more productive, less of a challange and making sure that ALL our voices are heard. We will be rededicating ourselves to the Misison, the Work and the Music. Stay tuned.
Along those lines, we are beginning to plan a Rededication Ritual & Bardic Circle for most likely sometime during the weekend of September 25-26. If you are interested, please stay in touch or attend rehearsals for further information as we settle the details.
The other threads that we'll be exploring for September and October is a focus on the Basics and how to learn and study our material. Good time for new folk to join up. Remember, you don't have to be a Performing Member to participate.
The other thing that's going to be of major interest is preparing our program for The Witches' Ball at the end of October, on All-Hallows Eve, Natch! People who are interested in this event better start turning up oin a regular basis. Anybody who pops up a week out from the event and expects to go on stage... fugeddaboutit. Just letting you know NOW. Peace!
The next two months ought to be hectic, interesting and exciting!
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone,
Choral DirectorMitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen
