Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
…
The quote above pretty much sums up my whole experience of composing and performing my improvised piece with the Echoes of Peace choir last weekend.
We have Eric Swanson to thank for the lovely recording. Since a number of you asked about it, I posted the entire piece (even though it is nearly nine minutes long *smile*). I would love to hear your thoughts.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In motion and improvising with the Echoes of Peace Choir
Wednesday night, I again workshopped my ideas for the piece with the choir — in a roundabout way. (I know you’re surprised. *grin*). I broke the nearly 50 attendants into smaller groups who sang while the rest of the choir was our audience. After each activity, we stopped for feedback from the participants and the audience.
The evening was definitely a success and included lots of laughing, singing and improvising! A particularly magical moment occurred during the third circle of singers. The space, the attention and the music came together for an ethereal moment out of time.
…
Thursday afternoon, Sara and I rehearsed with our wonderful musicians for the concert – Rachael Kilgour (guitar), Ryan Frane (piano) and John Thorene (bass).
…
Overnight, Mother Nature played a little April Fool’s joke by covering Duluth in snow. Friday night, I accompanied Sara, Rachael and Paula to their gig at “The Love is On for Rachel“: a fundraiser for local teen, Rachel Sandell, who was diagnosed with liver cancer last year. It was a powerful evening and I was honored to be invited to sing.
Later that night, I headed to Wisconsin with Sara and stayed at her cute little “tree house” for the rest of the weekend while we worked through the final details for the concert.
Quicker than I could have imagined, we reached concert day. We put the finishing touches on the interludes, got gussied up and drove to our beautiful — both visually and acoustically — venue, Sacred Heart Music Center.
On stage with the Echoes of Peace Choir
…
If I do say so myself, the concert was a hit. The choir sang great, the transitions between songs that Sara wrote were powerful (and educational! *smile*) and I got to try my hand at some dramatic reading (thanks, M, for all the practice reading out loud!) in addition to serving as guest vocalist and premiering my improvised composition.
…
Right, my composition.
I guess I was excited because I forgot to turn on my recorder at the start of the second set (surprise, surprise), but the evening was recorded and I will share the audio when it arrives.
Before the piece began the choir moved from being seated upstage to standing on the built-in stone “risers” of the former church’s dais. I was inspired to have them walk in place while I told a story about a child traveling for days with her family. Next I moved the choir to water sounds and “found” a story from someone who came to America on a slave ship. And then …
I honestly don’t remember much after that. (It happens to me with improv *grin*) I remember getting the choir singing and talking and then reveling in the wonderful acoustics of the venue and the masterful live mic sound produced by Eric Swanson.
…
I did remember to record some of the evening (*smile*). Here’s a little snippet from the finale of the first set.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
