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A
Winter Solstice Singing Ritual:
A Celebration of the Darkness and the Light
with Songs and Stories
by
Julie Forest Middleton & Stasa Morgan-Appel
8 1/2 X 11" - 78 pages - plus CD -
$23
Table
of Contents | Reviews
| See Inside | Photo
Album | Bulk
Rates
A TOTALLY NEW CONCEPT IN RITUAL DESIGN! 
A
complete, deeply powerful, non-denominational Winter Solstice
ritual celebration to perform. The book/CD
kit works as well for a
small circle (read the text, play the CD, and sing along),and
as a
large community or church ritual that's a calming gift at a
hectic
time of year. The 15 songs, rounds, and sing-alongs, the readings
and the narrator's script combine as a seamless celebration
for the longest night of the year and the returning of the light.
This
ritual has been performed in Philadelphia PA, New London CT,
Indianapolis IN, Seattle WA, Athens GA, and Northern CA.
BOOK
SCRIPT
for the narration
MUSIC for all 15 songs, chants, sing-alongs
"I
love the universalism of the program which draws from calypso,
Western polyphonic choral singing, Native American texts, Greek
mythology, Feminist rounds, Pagan chants, and even an old American
hymn."
Copies
of the READINGS
NOTES on Production, Ritual, Music - 27 pages
“The
authors have considered and addressed every conceivable issue
organizers might encounter in presenting such an event, not
only the music, words and the ritual script itself, but also
venue considerations, program, props, advertising -- everything!”
ALL
PERFORMANCE RIGHTS
“What
a fabulous project! This book bridges the gap for those who
want to add music to their rituals but don’t read music
and are unsure of their group leading skills. With its seamless
integration of script, music, and production notes, this will
allow Winter Solstice celebrations to spring up out of the fertile
ground of many nature-celebrating communities. This is an excellent
resource, and the CD is so well done it will surely be a Solstice
favorite for years to come.”
CD
All MUSIC in performance
TEACHING TRACKS for speedy song learning
“As
a UU choir director, I think the inclusion of both sheet music
and the teaching tracks on CD is its best feature. That helps
us include people who don't read sheet music!”
YOU
ADD
Singers, music director, narrator, readers
This ritual works well for a small circle: read
the script and sing along with the CD
“I
was very moved and reminded of faith and hope in the darkness.
“In
December when I notice myself mentally griping about how short
the days are, I remember the lessons of the Solstice —
seeds grow in the dark, babies grow in the dark. And I can breathe
and appreciate the darkness.”
It
works well on a larger scale: As a gift to your community
during a hectic time of year
“A holiday concert -- and something more. A really
really fresh winter holiday program without Santa Claus or horrible
parodies and rewrites of familiar carols. A December event which
inspires people without offending them.”
As
a bridging ritual between the Pagan community and the “muggles”
“Provides a format for outreach that allows you to
display a complete, eclectic Pagan Solstice ritual in a way
that’s accessible to people you’ve never been exposed
to Paganism before.” — Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator
for the Pagan Pride Project
“Very moving to attend a Pagan service that was public
— in a civic space — and polished!”
As
a group fundraiser
“Our chorus has made money on this every year.”
“A participatory ritual of song, narrative, meditation
and action, it takes everyone—the audience, the narrators,
the singers—deep into the darkness, then journeys through
that darkness to greet the joyous return of light. Superb!”
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