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!

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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! 

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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.

Welcome Yule!

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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!

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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!

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We are excited about  our upcoming all-day workshop on choral music of Zimbabwe given by Brendan Taafe,

Brendan leading a song

a well-known singer, songleader and musician from Brattleboro, VT, on October 29, 2011

The event is from 10:00 – 3:00 pm at the Monadnock Waldorf School, 99 South Lincoln Street, Keene, NH.

Here are Brendan’s words about his workshops: “we will focus on the songs I learned/ collected while I was in Zimbabwe in the spring.  I worked with singers in Mhondoro, Chikore, Seke and Chitungwiza to record and document the traditional makwayera repertoire. The songs range from church choruses to songs for a rain-making ceremony to folk songs about a bachelor’s hapless attempts to impress the girls. Some have mbira accompaniment, some are acapella: all are a joy to sing.  Along the way, I’ll create a context for the music by sharing stories and showing pictures of the trip.”

Animaterra is underwriting most of the cost of this event, so it’s very affordable for non-members: $25 for the whole day, including some kinds of refreshments. Participants will want to bring a bag lunch and water to drink. Join us for a wonderful day of singing and getting to know Brendan and the wonderful women of Animaterra!

Feel free to spread the word to the women in your life!

Space is limited, so please reserve your spot right away by emailing Allison directly: animaterra321 AT gmail.com

Or call 603 209 3304

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I love new beginnings, and the start of a new rehearsal season is no exception. Especially this one- thanks to the success of our membership drive, we have a large number of new singers, many former members have returned, and most of last season’s singers are still with us! While we have had great success in recent seasons with beautiful blending voices, now our sound is richer and fuller than ever! And I’m happy to see that the welcoming warmth of returning members seems to make the newbies feel comfortable and a part of the community.

We have several activities to look forward to in the coming months. On Sept. 17 we will participate in a Blueberry Festival at our new Keene performance “home”: the First Baptist Church of Keene. In October we have two exciting events, with several activities leading up to the first, which is the Keene Pumpkin Festival. Look for our Animaturnover booth where apple and spinach turnovers will enhance your Pumpkin Festival experience! Later in the month, we will be welcoming Brendan Taafe as he leads us in a workshop of choral music from Zimbabwe. In November there’s the Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Keene Community Kitchen, and in late November or early December we’ll participate in the Keene Tree Lighting Festival. And finally comes our concert weekend, Dec. 9 and 10- stay tuned for more details!

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It’s that time again! A new Animaterra rehearsal season is on the horizon. Soon we will begin rehearsals for our Winter concerts that will be held on Dec. 9 and 10, 2011.

The first rehearsal includes a New and Prospective Member Reception. Returning members are encouraged to bring a friend, acquaintance, colleague or family member to share refreshments, get to know other members, ask questions, and attend our first rehearsal. In fact, new and prospective members are not required to make a commitment to the season until the third rehearsal! It gives a chance to check us out, see how we fit in your busy life, and hopefully, get you hooked so that, like many of us, you can’t imagine not being a part of this wonderful group of women!

We are committed to being a welcoming space where women of all experience levels can sing, but our musical standards are high and our performances are polished and of top quality. Therefore, although we have no auditions, we provide a practice cd, song and word sheets, and we ask everyone to make every effort to learn the music and attend all rehearsals.

“Opening Day” is Sept. 6. The reception begins at 6:00 pm. The rehearsal will begin promptly at 7:00 and ends at 9:00. As always, we will be at Langdon Place, 136 Arch Street, Keene. For more information, click the Contact Animaterra button on the sidebar. 

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It was a wonderful workshop! Here are some thoughts from one of our Animaterra members who attended, Angel Chapman:

Yesterday I attended “Sing From the Heart” a singing and yoga workshop/spa day hosted by Allison Aldrich. We had 17 attend, including people with all different levels of singing experience, from the very experienced to those who had never sung in a group before.  After an hour of basic yoga to get centered, we had some vocal warm ups and then began to sing – and sing and sing! No need to read music, as Allison just sang us a bit and we’d repeat it back to her.

What joy it is to make music and sing in harmony with others! I feel my spirit is receiving  healing when I sing in a group. It gives me energy, peace, and joy that I carry with me throughout the day and several days after. I also sing with Animaterra Women’s Chorus, where we make these melodious, harmonious sounds every Tuesday night during our seasons. I can’t wait for September! Would you like to come join us?

And some insights from another Animaterran, Laurie Donohue:

What a wonderful day! First, the setting. Because Allison opened her home to us, it felt so comfortable and welcoming – much better than a classroom or meeting hall. It was like going to visit old friends.

Next, the people. There was a real synergy to the group. Everyone seemed to feel very comfortable and accepted. I don’t think anyone was afraid to speak up or to sing throughout the day.

And, of course, the music. Allison picked songs that were easy to learn and remember and the opportunity to find our own harmonies was fun and energizing. It was so pleasant to hear the interplay of spontaneous harmonies! At the end of the workshop, although our voices were tired, I don’t think anyone was ready to leave! As I was driving home, it occurred to me that I’d forgotten what day it was, I had been so much in the moment throughout the day. The feeling stayed with me for the rest of the evening – a feeling of being “filled up” and content. I can’t wait until the next one!

Singing game from Ghana

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LEARN TO SING FROM THE HEART!

Lupine at Tam Lin

Saturday, July 30, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Allison Aldrich will hold a summer singing workshop at Tam Lin, her beautiful home in Nelson, NH. This is a wonderful chance to spend a “singing spa day”, finding ways to engage your whole self to become a freer, better singer. Incorporating yoga and other healthy mind and body approaches, you will spend the day finding how to live a healthier life through singing, and how to be a better singer through a healthy mind and body. Open to women and men with all ranges of experience.

$50 includes a delicious, nutritious local lunch.

For more information and to register, contact Allison Aldrich by clicking “Contact Animaterra” in the sidebar.

Numbers are very limited, so please register soon! Thanks!

MORE DETAILS:

We will start the day with gentle yoga postures led by Betsy Perry of Lumunos. The morning will continue with warm-ups and other singing techniques gauged to open and free your voice, using vocal exercises and wonderful songs from around the world.

Lunch will be provided, and during the lunch break there will be a chance to walk in the woods or along the rural roads of Nelson, or simply relax on the grounds and enjoy the company of other participants, or even some solitude if you wish.

In the afternoon we will continue to apply the skills of singing from the heart. You will leave refreshed, rejuvenated, and will have new songs, new ideas, and new friends!

Allison Aldrich has been singing harmony for as long as she can remember. She sang in the Hanover and Cambridge Revels, has sung in and led song circles and church and community choirs, studied choral conducting and elementary music education at Boston University, and taught elementary music for 25 years. She is the founder and artistic director of Animaterra Women’s Chorus in Keene, NH. She believes that singing is a fundamental part of life, and has helped scores of women find their voices. She also plays piano and concertina and performs as a duo with her husband, Hunt Smith.

Betsy Perry came to a yoga practice in her early 50′s when the aches and pains from running had caught up with her.  As a nurse, she knew her lifestyle was no longer healthy for her joints.  She began studying in Ann Arbor with wonderful Iyengar certified teachers, one of whom led Betsy to the two reasons yoga has become a way of life for her:  1) yoga is a spiritual practice through the physical body; and 2) someday a yoga practice of your own will “just break out”—and it did!  Betsy brings 15 years of yoga practice to guide us in finding balance, joy, and openness to the everyday experience of our physical bodies.

Tam Lin is the home of Allison Aldrich and Hunt Smith. They built their rustic timber-frame house themselves in 2009. Nestled on 15 acres, surrounded by woods, streams and marshes of the eastern woodlands. Tam Lin is a sanctuary in a busy world.

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