Out Now: BlesSings
We are thrilled to announce the release of our debut EP, BlesSings. Recorded and mixed by Mark Ettinger at Lethe Lounge and produced by Sasha Bogdanowitsch, Thomas Cabaniss, and Mark Ettinger, BlesSings showcases two facets of Moving Star: compositions & improvisations. Free improvisations such as 'Climbing Towards' and 'Be Here Now' are paired with through-composed works from some of our past offerings, such as 'Mantra Mix' and 'What We Need Is Here' from our musical theater work, BlesSing.
BlesSings is the culmination of the first era of Moving Star and we couldn't be more excited to share our music with you all. We hope you will consider purchasing the EP on our Bandcamp page. Additionally, it is available to stream on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your music. Be sure to download our liner notes, available here.
We thank you for your support and hope you enjoy BlesSings!
My Words Your Words Our Words by Mark Ettinger & Moving Star
As part of our virtual work, Mark Ettinger led Moving Star in an online improvisation that asked members to choose a text and treat it in a variety of ways - breaking it into smaller phrases, using it to create new colors and textures, and then to feature it in an extended and prominent solo - it's called MY WORDS, YOUR WORDS, OUR WORDS. Enjoy the performance, recorded live on June 5, 2021 from our remote locations!
“Burden” by Thomas Cabaniss & Moving Star
We are thrilled to share with you another full video from our In.Verse performance:
Burden by Thomas Cabaniss & Moving Star
Text for Burden by Langston Hughes
“Burden” is a setting of Langston Hughes' brief, powerful poem. The clapping patterns are drawn from the Gullah shouts of the South Carolina Lowcountry, and the drawings are by Richard Hamburger.
“Today” by Sasha Bogdanowitsch & Moving Star
Today by Sasha Bogdanowitsch & Moving Star
Text by Billy Collins
Along with emerging from the pandemic came the familiar feelings of wanting to "break out," beautifully expressed in Billy Collins's poem "Today." It's an intimate, personal declaration of independence, a way to understand the change of seasons, from winter to spring, from spring to summer. Sasha's setting of the poem breaks out, too. Beginning out of time, in overlapping phrases, suddenly the beat drops and it's today - "...just that kind of day."
Follow Us!
We invite you to visit us on our newly revamped social media channels. We just rolled out a video series profiling each of our artists who participated in In.Verse on Facebook and Instagram. Revisit past performances and learn more about our many projects on our Youtube channel. Please like and subscribe as there is plenty more to come!
Juneteenth: Songs for the People
Music by Onome
Text by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Recorded live during In.Verse | June 5, 2021
From the composer: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born free in 1825, a time when slavery was rife throughout the United States. She used her relative privilege to advocate for the oppressed as an abolitionist, suffragette, educator, and prolific writer of poems, essays, and short stories. Her piece, Songs for the People, speaks to the power of music to bring us all together across all walks of life. I am honored to share my original music setting of Songs for the People here with you all.
Virtual Performance: In.Verse
Thank you to everyone who tuned in for In.Verse, an evening of new, original works that merge improvisation and composition through the prismatic lens of poetry from the 13th century to the present. In addition to live, synchronous singing, the program also highlighted original video works from the past year of virtual performances, including Falling Into Place, 7 Ways of Seeing ‘I Will Wade Out,' and Change. In case you missed it in realtime, the video is available here for on-demand viewing.
Through the technological and personal challenges of the past year, Moving Star has persevered. We've actively rehearsed, created, and performed online, utilizing new and unique creative methods that have yielded works of great beauty that probably would not have emerged at any other time. We are excited to have shared In.Verse with you before going back to live, in-person music-making this summer and fall.