News items posted to this page are usually edited versions of Member Mailings.
Four Winds News: 31 December 1999
6th Day of Kwanzaa - Kuumba (Creativity)Quick News bits: While we were organizing Winter Solstice, Enchatntments signed on to distributte the Album.
Oasis CD (www.oasiscd.com) has selected Four Nations Song to be included on their upcoming Oasis World Music Compilation Disc #3. We are told the disc should be ready sometime in the spring.
Sent Our press kit to Four Quarters Farm (www.4qf.org ) and exporing the posssiblility of our participating in Magic Mountian usic. this summer. Stay tuned.
Since a number of people have asked. WeÕve been adding sound clips to the 5 Year Project Page. Enjoy!
Check out some Scenes of us at The Witches Ball, courtesy of Joe Matzzie of Mynce Pye
Songs of Joy on Solstice Night
Songs of Solstice, Tuesday, December 21, 1999Thank you all, those of you who came out for Songs of Solstice. It was a great success and a lot of fun! Even though New York blessed us with the usual impenetrable overcast for the Solstice Moon, we hosted about 60 of our friends and guests for Songs of Solstice, a ÒSing-It-Yourself" Celebration of the Winter Solstice. The music was joyus, heartfelt, rockinÕ and roof-raising. Really not bad for a bunch of Pagans just singing and drumming. Director Kurt Talking Stone took an unaccstomed role as High Priest accompanied by his wife Heather in her first public ritual as High Priestess. A good representation of the Chorus was on hand with a fair number of alumni and semiactives attending...
Big Kudos for the team, Kurt, Heather, Jezibell, Athena, Elspeth, Ana, Reynard, Joni, DayaLi, Jeanette and Richard Courage. Also atttending were Four Winds Alumni & Semiactives Ceancaite, Misty, Alexandria, Robert and Tracy. Honorable ÒWish I Was There" Mentions goes to Thunder, who had to work that night, and Richard Treitner, with a precommitment to his coven circle.
Since we were at CAP 21, the studio space presented some unique zoning and insurance challenges. Smokeless, flameless and crumbless.... according to the rules. However, we do like the place, and we were able to get one of their big rooms due to the holiday break in theatre classes, and the price was very afforable. We were basically okay with the restrictions since the focus on this ritual is intended to be song, so less empasis on props suited us well enough. However, a Solstice riual without ritual LIGHT seemed somehow incomplete. We wanted to stenuously avoid any of the kind of cheesy candle substitutes that just screamed "cheesy candle substitute", So for the altar we used a lightbox I borrowed from the office and lucite rods for Spirit, God and Godess and the Directions. They worked out rather nicely, although with a bit of ÒFortress of Solitude" aspect. For a Circle of Light, we distributed 4-inch glo-sticks instead of candles. We were fully prepared to endure Òthis is stupid" remarks from guests, but not only did they get it, they dug it. Besides, we did sidestep the usual hot wax difficulties and everyone got a fun souvenir of the evening.
We were very pleased with our guests as well, who for the most part got very into the spirit of things and sang with us with great enthusiasm. A number of people had lots of nice things to say about the event and expressed their enjoyment of the ritual. In addition, we recieved donations near to the cost of the space rental and we also sold a number of copies of We Each Send A Voice. Particularly encouraging, since we fronted the money for that project. Label, what label? Apparently, people do seem to enjoy and appreciate what we are trying to.
All in all, Songs Of Solstice was a fine ending to what turned out to be a very busy year for the Chorus. Once again , thank you all Members and guests! Pilamaye! It is very sacred. Wakan Aloh.
Looking into the Year 2000
Greetings to all at the close of the year,
First off, IÕm going to stay away from any sort of Millenium hype, but on the eve of the New Year, we will see whatÕs in the offing. Strickly speaking, the century turns over on 2001, but people just seem to groove on rolling over the numbers... I will mention that the Common Era is based on the Christian calendar, and our Mission encompasses more than just one spiritual tradition. So there.
The schedule for January is in place on the Schedule page. In addition to working on our STUFF, in the coming weeks, weÕll also start planning our (gasp) Year 2000 Season. We have invitations to return for Enchantmen'ts Grove Bardic in April, Clearwater in June, a possible trip to Four Quarters Farm. We would also like to put together the Coyote Bardic, a visit to ClubNET and some other fun things. We also received a letter from a prisioner inviting us to bring our program there
I will remind people that since Four Winds is a member supported Cooperative, each MembersÕ voice is as strong as their level of participation, and that includes our planning and decsion-making process. Those of you who turn up, get to have a lot to say about what weÕll be doing! Hint! Hint! OK, attendance has been a little ... er... erratic since Witches Ball. But weÕve had a great year and despite challenges, we have grown a bit as a cooperative and as Bards as well.
My Thanks to each and every one of you for your contributions and support of Four Winds over the past year. Hoping you are all having a healthy and happy holiday season.
LetÕs have a great Year 2000! Ashe!
Kurt Talking Stone Choral Director
WE EACH SEND A VOICE:
5 Years of Celebration in Song,
Chant & Rhythm • 1994-1999We Officially released We Each Send A Voice; 5 Years of Celebration in Song, Chant & Rhythm • 1994-1999. On October 31, for Samhain/Halloween. We are still pretty psyched! The discs and tapes came out unbelievably spiffy. WeÕve shipped preorders, sold at events and have been revceiving a steady trickle of online orders. Thank you so much to everyone who has given this project their suport and enouragement.
Check out the Official Press Release
WE EACH SEND A VOICE:
Five Years of Celebration in Song,
Chant and Rhythm
CDs and TAPES NOW AVAILABLEPrices: CDs: $15.00, Tapes: $10.00
Anybody who is interested in distributing this recording, please contact us at:
718 373-8987, khgriffith@worldnet.att.net or by mail to
Four Winds Earth Chorus, 4114 Seagate Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224-12339.
We be spent most of this past month or so working on distributing We Each Send A Voice and getting ready for our All Singing, Chanting and Dancing, "Sing-it-Yourself" Winter Solstice Celebration. Thanks to each and every one of you for helping to make it a success!
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone,
Choral DirectorMitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen