Paul Winter at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (Photo by Jeff Day)	Paul Winter's Solstice Celebrations In 1980, the Paul Winter Consort became artists in residence at New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the world's largest Gothic church. Since then, happily employing the building's gorgeous acoustics and stunning atmosphere, they have presented almost 100 different events, incorporating, in true Winter style, a diverse array of instruments, theatrical effects and the voices of many species. Two of the these events — celebrations of the winter and summer solstices — are wildly popular annual occurrences. December's winter solstice event, with performances spread over three days, echoes the ancient ritual of beseeching the sun to return after the longest night of the year. Each show is an energetic extravaganza featuring the rise of a giant "Sun Gong" to the 100-foot vault of the cathedral and the appearance of a floating, spinning replica of the earth. Last December, on the event's 20th anniversary, Winter introduced a 20-foot-tall "Tree of Sounds" made up of gongs, bells and giant chimes. In contrast, the summer solstice performances, which celebrate the arrival of the longest day of the year in June, are mystical in approach. On two consecutive days, acoustic-oriented shows are done in two parts: at sunrise and sunset. The meditative music reflects the waxing and waning of the sun shining through the immense stained glass windows of the 100-foot-tall cathedral. This year, the summer solstice performances will be held on June 16 and 17. "The Winter Solstice Celebration is a sort of summing up of the year," says Winter, "while the Summer Solstice Celebration is a welcoming of the summer and that sense of promise it seems to bring." Harry Pritchett, the cathedral's dean, loves both solstice events. "The way the music curls around the interior of the church is wonderful," he says. "People feel a sense of mystery, of the holy. It's a gestalt experience — the combination of the music and the visual elements and the beautiful architecture of the cathedral." — T.B.
	A Brief Guide to Paul Winter's Recordings Although Paul Winter calls his work "earth music," record stores usually feature it in the New Age section. His recordings, many of which include elements recorded outdoors, are praised by music critics and fans alike for their beautiful, natural sound. The best overview of his work is contained in his two-CD album, Paul Winter — Greatest Hits. Liner notes and a CD-ROM program in this package easily lead listeners to the wide range of Winter's recordings. Other milestone albums include Icarus, Prayer For the Wild Things, Spanish Angel, Whales Alive!, Canyon, Common Ground, Missa Gaia/Earth Mass, Sun Singer, Wolf Eyes: A Retrospective and Callings. — T.B. RETURN TO FEATURE STORY