Sistrum - Lansing Women's Chorus

Dancing naked at the Edge of Dawn

Track Listing:

1. Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser
"To honor my Canadian family and roots."
Sponsored by Bess German

2. Full Moonlight Dance
For sf: Honoring the strength & generosity of the Lansing Lesbian Community."
Sponsored anonymously

3. Everything She Touches
"In honor of the Goddess and the wonderful women of Sistrum. Blessed be." Sponsored by Amy Geishert & Melodee Graybill

4. Koowu
"In memory of Wayne & Gwen Eaton who gifted me with an appreciation for music in its many splendid forms." Sponsored by Abby Eaton

5. My Love Walks in Velvet
"Remembering Maxine Hall. I will love her until my life is done." Sponsored by Barb Siler

6. Both Page and Pen
"For my personal page & pen."
Sponsored by Claudia Davis

7. Camino Caminante
"To honour Amy W. and others who Teach for America in Miami and other cities, from her E.L. fans." Sponsored by Irene Blanchard

8. Ödi Ödi
Sponsored by James D. Noble, Lawton Group Real Estate

9. What Matters
"....To love proudly, to love well - ‘Love has no face...’” Sponsored anonymously

10. Balm in Gilead
"To Jim Noble, thank you for being an inspiration to so many. We love you!" Sponsored by Jen Nimtz & Miriam Danu

11. Over the Rainbow
"In memory of our family members who have passed Over the Rainbow.” Sponsored by Rebecca Reagan & Susan Schwaderer

12. The Dark Line
"To the power of women's voices joined in song." Sponsored by Lisa Haston, Judy Bohms, & CJ Kruska

13. Morning Prayer
“In honor of our mothers, Joan & Debra, who taught us not to simply walk, but fly!” Sponsored by Lynn Boomer & Meredith Bowen.

14. Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn
"In memory of my Mom, whose love birthed me to the dance!" Sponsored by Meredith Bradley

15. Still I Rise
"Remembering Marcia Steigerwald - a joyful supporter of women making music.” Sponsored by Sue Emmert & Terry Grant

This CD was inspired by Sistrum’s first commissioned work, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn. I wanted to commission a piece for women’s chorus, Sistrum in particular, which would celebrate the strength, beauty, and incredible passion of this community of women who sing together. We found the writings of Kris Radish to be an eloquent parallel to the passion of the chorus and the energetic and vibrant sound of Jenni Brandon’s music quite complimentary to our voices. The songs surrounding the commission inspire one to movement and weave together an odyssey of both internal and external voyage.

Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser is a lighthearted piece about a girl trying to get a monk to dance with her by bribing him with material possessions. A perfect opener! I chose Full Moonlight Dance and Everything She Touches to follow for the wonderful imagery and texture they provide the listener. Both are chants and have their origins in Celtic pagan culture. Both chants speak to many of us as we journey toward reclaiming and celebrating our power, our beauty, our strength and ourselves. These chants invigorate and energize our transitions and healing. Koowu’s direct translation means “strength” and speaks to the responsibility we each have to be true to ourselves, while adding another delicious layer of texture as it incorporates Middle Eastern scales.

We continue our excursion along other paths around the world in the next two pieces. Inspired by the swirling mix of peoples and cultures in Miami, Camino Caminante exhorts the listener to be not be passive, but rather to see every decision as another step on their quest - “Traveler, there is no path. Paths are made by walking.” The Tamil based Ödi Ödi urges us to look internally for inspiration and empowerment “Untold millions of people run and run, constantly seeking, grow desperate and die looking for the light that is within them.” Randi Driscoll claims that writing What Matters was her alternative to kicking in the television in rage and dismay when she heard about the violent hate crimes committed against Matthew Shepard in 1998. The song was written to honor Matthew’s life, his family, and the unconditional love they represent—the love with no face. The song is now the official benefit single for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which dreams of replacing “hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance.” I chose to follow this with the spiritual There is a Balm in Gilead as our personal journeys are often not achieved without adversity and injury, and we need to acknowledge what we give up as much as what we gain. Should we need a reminder while on our journey to keep dreaming of a new day, it is just Over the Rainbow.

We finally arrive at the pièce de résistance in the three-movement work of Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn. In this vital and energetic work, we acknowledge that we don’t completely control our evolution, and, yet, we are strengthened by something as simple as a glance, a word, laughter echoing in an empty room. We can surround ourselves, take comfort in, and revel in whatever inspires us – it doesn’t matter what, it only matters that we welcome and embrace it because it is meaningful.

Our final song, Still I Rise, is an ode to survival, regardless of the challenge, the obstacle, the perplexity. Nothing can keep us down – for we shall be Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn.

I hope you enjoy the journey -
Meredith

Sistrum's debut CD: Sweet Women!

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Track Listing:

01. We Are
02. The Stove
03. A Small But Fateful Victory
04. Would You Harbor Me?
05. Everything Possible
06. Girl Shoes
07. No Ne Li Domi
08. To Make A Prairie
09. Mama
10. Sisters You Keep Me Fighting
11. Peace Is
12. Set Me As A Seal
13. How Can I Keep From Singing
14. Sweet Woman
15. I Will Be Earth
16. Las Amarillas

Sweet Women

Sweet Women was recorded Live at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing, Michigan by Sergei Kvitko.