aprilstarchild | Why You Should Come to Aurora's Concert

...if you live in Portland, anyway.

There are not a lot of public pagan events. There are not a lot of public music events that are specifically pagan.

It's not very often that you can see a concert of choral Wiccan music.

This winter's Aurora concert is called Solstice! because it's about the winter solstice. It's only half a step away from being an actual ritual. We have a circle casting song. The readings in between the songs are about Kore's (aka Persephone's) journey into the Underworld, about Sun Children...some of it isn't much different than the kinds of things done in trance work ("Imagine it's fifty thousand years ago, and the days keep getting darker...")

"To Go in the Dark"
A poem by Wendell Berry set to music:

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
And is traveled by dark feet, and dark wings.

"We Are a Circle"
Many people I know are already familiar with the refrain to this one, it's one often sung in public rituals in Portland: "We are a circle, within a circle, with no beginning, and never ending..." This version has verses for each of the directions called in Wiccan ritual, and a last one that goes "The circle closes between the worlds, to mark this sacred space, where we come face to face"

"Everything She Touches"
Another one probably known by anyone who's read Starhawk, but with a different tune and really neato intro verses. "She is the woman who weaves the night sky..."

"To Raise the Morning Star"
A Holly Near song. I love it.

Burning, all night long.
Burning, at the gates of dawn.
Singing, near and far.
Singing, to raise the morning star...

"Solstice"
The title song, of course. Really dramatic (it's originally from a musical about people who dream the future on Solstice night) and a hell of a lot of fun to sing.

"Gloria"
The Vivaldi one. With the long piano parts? You've probably heard it. (No, not the usual Christmas one, the other one *lol*) "Gloria in excelsis Deo" or "Glory to God in the highest," are the only lyrics. Lots of pretty harmonies. Joan has told us to imagine a glorious moment in our lives when we sing it, and feel like we're singing about that. I always think of seeing the Aurora Borealis as a kid living in Iceland.

We have a goofy song. We always do. It's called "Home for the Holidays Medley." It includes us singing about Hannukah to the tune of the Chipmunks' Christmas song, among other things. My mom always likes our goofy songs best.

"This Little Light of Mine"
This one is fun to sing, I think.

"O Holy Night"
With different lyrics by Holly Near. "Rise from your knees, and hear the people's voices..." Also, a really pretty arrangement. Joan rocks.

I've only mentioned eight songs, we're singing twice that many.

There are two shows, both on Saturday, December 16th. One at four pm, and one at 7:30 pm. They're both at the Cabel Hall of Catlin Gabel school, which is 8825 SW Barnes Rd. If you take Burnside West out of downtown, it's at the top of the hill. Bus 20 or less than a mile's walk from Sunset max station. $18 in advance, $20 at the door.

I've sold six tickets already, squee!

jenhowell and Jarrod are going to the four pm show, and my grandpa (my dad's dad) is visiting then, him and my parents are going to the 7:30 show.

So if you want to do something this season, but are sick to death of Christmas crap, this show is for you!! ;^)