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Paul Winter at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
(Photo by Jeff Day)
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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.
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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.
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