Animaterra is a women's chorus in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, USA. We are a non-profit organization, formed by women to communicate through music of the world's traditions. We welcome all women in a community of song, reaching out to all people locally, regionally and globally. We offer an environment of learning and shared musical artistry in which women, whether beginners or experienced, can express themselves through music.
. .
May 4th 2012
Animaterra Spring Concert 2012: Refresh the Spirit
Come join in the celebration of Animaterra’s 15th birthday season as we sing songs of life, challenge and joy! We will feature songs of the Balkans, Africa, and early America, as well as songs of many forms of liquid refreshment.
March 27th 2012
In 1997:
Dolly the sheep was cloned.
Princess Diana and Mother Teresa died.
Comet Hale-Bopp streaked across the sky.
Hale-Bopp
The movie “Titanic” was produced.
And Animaterra Women’s Chorus was born (on April 8!)!
This spring we celebrate 15 years of joyful singing.
A good time was had by all. Allison is looking forward to another 15 years!
March 10th 2012
This season is off to a great start- with over 60 registered members, including many new to the group. The voices are strong and the spirits and personalities are supportive and positive. We have some very challenging songs, as well as some fun and silly music to learn, along with some oldies but goodies.
After some consideration, the concert title will be “Refresh the Spirit”. We are celebrating fifteen years together soon, with songs about coffee and tea, nurturing ourselves, and many songs about water. Our weekly rehearsals are refreshing and energizing, and that energy is being poured into the music we make together.
Making a joyful noise!
March 1st 2012
For all of our 15 years, Animaterra has sung songs of peace, justice, freedom, and what we sometimes call “women’s issues”: relationships, spirit, family, children, aging, and so on. This Friday at the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough, NH, we will kick off their exhibition entitled “Becoming: A Child’s Journey to Adulthood” with a concert we have titled “Lullabies and Lifelines”. We will sing songs for children and for all ages, celebrating our lives and the joys and struggles of living. Assistant Director Heather Bower will lead the chorus in a beautiful program. We hope you will join us!
Animaterra led by Heather Bower
January 29th 2012
Rehearsals are starting soon for the Animaterra Spring 2012 season! We are excited to welcome back some former members as well as returning members! We will also welcome new and prospective members at our first rehearsal of the season, Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Langdon Place of Keene (more info in the sidebar under Sing With Us and UPCOMING EVENTS).
At our rehearsals we make a big effort to make everyone feel welcomed, included, and informed. We have “teas” for the first several weeks during the 30 minutes before rehearsal, and we also have a new buddy system so members have someone to check in with in addition to the director and section leaders. As we grow, we still want to maintain the wonderful community that has made Animaterra such a unique group in the region.
The repertoire for the upcoming season includes songs from the continent of Africa, the Balkan region of eastern Europe, as well as Jamaica, Israel, and early and contemporary USA. This season we feature ourselves: all a cappella, with our faithful percussionistas on a number of songs. We are really looking forward to making the music vibrant and alive!
December 24th 2011
Animaterra is grateful to all who have supported us and sung with us over the years. 2012 marks our 15th birthday, and we will be celebrating with a Birthday concert in May.
Watch this space for information about the start of the rehearsal season (hint: new members are welcome at our first rehearsal on Tuesday, Feb. 7!).
In the meantime, love and joy to you and a happy new year!
Here’s a little Animaterra cheer to ring in the new year!
December 20th 2011
Happy Solstice to All!
THE SHORTEST DAY
by Susan Cooper
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us – listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
November 29th 2011
This is going to be a beautiful evening of lullabies from around the world,
together with songs of the season, of hope and joy.
Please join us to celebrate in song! Also, please note that our Keene concert is in a new location:
the First Baptist Church on Maple Avenue.
Plenty of parking and a beautiful space!
November 6th 2011
Animaterra is close to celebrating its 15th anniversary, and the local all-male chorus, the Keene Cheshiremen, have been around since at least 1955. Both groups have been singing at the Keene Tree Lighting Ceremony for almost as long as Animaterra has existed. So why did it take us so long to combine forces and sing some songs together? I guess it doesn’t really matter, because after a successful attempt last year with one song, we have added to our repertoire and will be singing more songs together .
The Keene Tree Lighting Ceremony is a cherished tradition in this region. Carols, hot cocoa, even a visit from the Man in Red himself. Animaterra considers itself something of a “folk chorus” and this event certainly hits to the heart of contemporary folklore. Come sing with us on November 25!
October 4th 2011
Brendan leading a song
