Musicby PJ BirosikWHITE WING VISIONS Terri Marie, founder/producer of White Wing Visions, loves introducing new listeners to what she calls "the sound of transformation...music and songs which allow the opening for more joy and awakening in their lives. Through our recordings, we want to make the world a better and more joyful place to be, because sound is such a powerful creative force." With such notable artists as Ani Williams, Lisa Thiel, Mazatl Galindo and Standing Deer, the music of White Wing Visions includes goddess and Native American ceremonial chants in contemporary arrangements featuring didgeridoo and pan pipes, traditional Celtic renditions accompanied by harp and viola, as well as pan-cultural world rhythms sounded by hoop drums, ocarinas, kalimba and ancient flutes. Each recording's outstanding instrumentation is both authentically acoustic and emotionally provocative; the music not only stimulates the imagination, but infuses the soul with healing power and a sense of connection to all the world's beings, whether two or four legged, furred, feathered or scaled. The four albums featured below make for truly inspiring listening, time after time:
Harp-vocalist Williams and multi-instrumentalist Galindo are a talented twosome reaching their prime on this eleven-part ode to the natural lunar cycle. Ani's ethereal voice perfectly blends with her steel harp strings as hoop drum, bamboo flute, ocarina, violin, thumb piano, keyboards and a continent's worth of acoustic percussion ask us to honor the sacred Earth guised as goddess in ancient Mexico. Traditional Aztec ceremonial songs are given gentle yet deeply moving arrangements, accented by bird song recorded on location at Coban temples and the ruins of Chichen Itza. "Eclipse," written in two parts during solar and lunar celestial events, offers a reflective sacred space where the listener can redream the world into beauty. "San Miguel" presents a colorful celebration of life in this world renowned artists' village via expansive rhythmic pulses and body-swaying sonic accents. Galindo is a native Aztec born in Mexico City, a master of ancient South American instruments like quena and clay flutes as well as hoop and turtle shell drums. Originally a member of the group Xochimoki with Jim Berenholtz, he later joined the Native American rock group Red Thunder and has performed with Carlos Santana, Blues Traveler and Robbie Robertson; he describes his work with Ani Williams on Luna Trece as "an 11-course fine dining meal with five different desserts!" Williams (also known as Anne Williams) is one of the most celebrated harpists and singers of her generation, with dozens of recording credits to her acclaim. A pioneer in the field of women's sacred, native ceremonial and earth energy musical styles, she delights in performing spontaneously composed instrumentals and songs at sacred sites all over the world.
Filled with ceremonial chants and gorgeous instrumentals, the pair's first collaborative recording is filled with the exotic sounds of panpipes, ethnic drums and didgeridoo; but even more striking than William's crystalline harp tones and Thiel's sonorous guitar work is the wonderful blending of their unique vocal styles. Ethereal and angelic, Ani's soprano is the perfect counterpoint to Lisa's resonant, earth-grounded voice on songs like the lively "She," which has become a women's gathering staple, and the powerful tribal anthem "Wolf Chant." Initially conceived as a tribute to their mutual Celtic heritage, Sisters of the Dream quickly escalated in scope until it focused on both the Divine and the Earth through the feminine aspects of each, building a bridge between goddess and Gaia-oriented music categories. So one is able to enjoy a teaching from the jungle surrounding the Jaguar Temple at Palenque, a Yavapai-Apache inspired spiritual chant, as well as a devotional goddess piece inspired by an ancient ceremonial stone chamber near the sacred site of Avebury, England, all within one abundant album. As Lisa notes, "It's important for me to experience my spiritual life in everyday life, in all activities . . . in every person I meet and in my work, so that there is no separation between the mundane and the sacred." This dedication to empowering others helps make Thiel's and Williams' music so special, giving each listener an opportunity to share in the journey of revelation and realization of Divine purpose.
Thirty participants gathered in a sacred circle to beckon the ancestors to send out blessings through this music, led by Thiel and Williams. The result is a passionate collection of Celtic songs accented by guitar, harp, flute, bouzouki, viola, djembe drum and the exquisite vocals of Lisa and Ani. Incredibly lovely, the selections range from the delicate "Faery Song" to the more tribal driven "Blessings of the Animals" to help the listener re-connect with the healing, soothing and uplifting Earth energies for a renewed sense of inner harmony and peace. Often harmonizing with her own lead melody parts, Thiel's rich and dynamic voice intones Gaelic blessings which invoke the healing qualities of the animal world, expresses the passionate yearning for transformation of a butterfly, and sends prayers soaring skyward praising the beauty and wonder of the moon. Ani's lyrics attempt to pierce the veil of twilight when the magical transparency of the world can be glimpsed, evoke the power and majesty of ancient drum rituals from the British isles, and praise the pilgrim's path to enlightenment through mystery school initiation rites. The twosome believe that the knowledge of the ancient ones is kept alive through us, and that now is the time to carry on their vision so that the flame of love can be kept alive.
This is Standing Deer's debut recording, relating his interpretations of the songs he knew and loved as a child growing up in the Taos Pueblo; it begins, fittingly enough, with the blessing "We are all one voice, one color. The color inside all of us is Red." Two selections go on to honor the elders of this Native American community, "Stepping Lightly" and "Strong Power." The latter is a song that also pays tribute to the masculine part of the yearly cycle through a very heavy beat with bursts of whoops that heighten the energetic appeal of the music. Gentler drum rhythms and softly uttered Tiwa lyrics manifest a deep respect for the power of the feminine in "To All the Women in the World," while other songs use butterfly cocoon rattles, silver bells and natural percussion instruments to make what Standing Deer describes as "songs to carry our souls together." His rich, full-voiced singing effortlessly embraces the depths and heights of emotion to which love can take us, at times drifting from above like a caress, then becoming profoundly powerful and mesmerizing. Standing Deer painted the cover of One Voice in homage to his father, a traditional medicine man. It is a vibrant testimony to Standing Deer's prolific creative talents with striking colors which flow like his music, one of over 2,000 paintings which he has completed to date.
White Wing Visions' Terri Marie first became acquainted with the above musicians through her film and video productions. She explains, "I had used several pieces of both Lisa and Ani's music on documentaries, such as The Deer Dance of San Juan and Understanding Judo. I realized that their voices blended extremely well with each other and asked them to do a recording together. This was how White Wing Visions' first title -- Sisters of the Dream -- was born." At another recording session, Ani introduced her writing and performing partner, Mazatl Galindo, to Terri. The result was the release of the Luna Trece (13 Moons). Later, she was invited to attend a Native American full moon ceremony and witnessed the Tiwa medicine carrier, Standing Deer, drumming. Terri notes, "Both with Ani and Lisa, and then with Standing Deer, I had planned on doing documentaries about ancient music, focusing on its transformative uses as well as having the musicians share how they received inspirations for their respective art forms. The recordings released on White Wing Visions are the first step in this documentary process. Soon, we will begin a project in which Standing Deer animates his incredible paintings, sharing stories of the Tiwa culture to children at the OO OO Nah Art Center and how these tales may influence their future." Since White Wing Visions is a relatively new record company, we have listed below some sources in the Chicago area where you may hear the music for yourself:
If you need more information on how to purchase (or, if you are a retailer, sell) White Wing Visions' music, call toll free 888-880-WING (9464).
Submissions for review consideration may be sent to: PJ Birosik, MUSIK INTERNATIONAL CORP., 154 Betasso Road, Boulder, CO 80302-9606. Since 1977, Birosik has been a music industry consultant specializing in marketing, promotion, publicity and A&R/foreign licensing; she is a member of NARAS, NARM, NAIRD, CMC, IMA, and a past Board of Director of Los Angeles Women In Music who has been profiled in 11 international editions of Who's Who. Calls may be placed to her at (303) 444-9575 between 9:30am - 5pm MST regarding review criteria, consulting services for signed & unsigned musicians, and data list rentals. |