Echo Choir Videos

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Echo Women's Choir

The Echo Women's Choir is a community choir from Toronto, for women's voices. We sing music from community traditions around the world, in English and also many other languages. Echo is dedicated to diversity, inclusivity and social justice. This channel is for videos of our performances, at the Church of the Holy Trinity and other locations around Toronto. New videos released weekly!

Echo Women's Choir
Holding You in the Light, by Kathy Reid-Naiman, © SOCAN 2014 all rights reserved; used by permission. kathyreidnaiman.com Kathy says: "This song is deeply personal to me. I wrote the first verse for this song when my dear friend Ken Whiteley was gravely ill and we were all hoping and praying that he would pull through, but no one knew. Thankfully he did and is thriving! The other verses were written for another friend, Terry Glecoff who sadly did not survive but I was honoured to have been able to sing it to him before he died." Kathy and I [AlanG] have been singing this song in long-term care homes, and for hospice patients, along with other friends in Singing Through Life for about 5-6 years. We’re very happy to share it with Echo. And with the world. Recording © 2021, The Echo Women's Choir Audio and video editing: Peter Turner Something brand-new: sponsorship from a loyal friend Mattachioni East Italian grocery store, now in a new location 1501 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4L 2A4 (416) 466-1111 Congratulations, East-enders on the fantastic bread, sandwiches and pizzas And thanks so much from Echo for your support Mattachioni West -- 1617 Dupont St. 416-519-1010 Echo 2nd-Wave Pandemica Singers Alan Gasser, Artistic Director (and choral arranger) Thanks also to section leaders Alida Doornberg and Susanne Maziarz Jan, 2021 – Echo Women’s Choir continued its “new season” this year, still staying home in isolation, and holding regular virtual meetups that aren’t quite the same as a rehearsal, but remind us of singing together and camaraderie. We keep learning how to present our work in virtual video form, to show our audiences, which is paired with the songs we are learning from teachers far and near. We’re very proud to know our voices are still sounding together … though with fewer singers, and all of us widely separated. Many thanks to the Echo Alumnae, guest artists and other singer friends who have joined us, virtually every week. Lyrics: We are holding you in our hearts, We are keeping you in our sight, We are drawing you ever nearer, We are holding you in the light. Holding, holding, we are holding you in the light (2x) 2. We are thinking of you with love, We are thinking of you with light, We are thinking of you with gladness, We are holding you in the light. 3. We are singing here by your side, We are praying your load is light, We are wishing you no more sadness, We are holding you in the light.
Holding You in the Light, by Kathy Reid-Naiman - performed by the Echo Women's Choir
YouTube Video UCpCp-aQALsQ1YvioHxEwJ9A_pAUF6nHw-9U
Better Times Will Come, Original words & music by Janis Ian, © 2020 Janis Ian; all rights reserved; used by permission. https://janisian.com/ https://www.bettertimeswillcome.com/ The “Better Times” Project, Janis Ian & Friends Janis Ian wrote something of a motto song for this stressful year, right after John Prine died of Covid in early April; then she sang it into her phone while doing laundry. And uploaded it for sharing with the world. She challenged people to make something of her song, to better our times, by sending out hope from lockdown and quarantine. She began from a point of deep compassion and generosity. We are thrilled to respond in kind. “What matters is that we enjoy it, give voice to it, and remember that someday, better times will come. Thanks, and stay safe.” Dec, 2020 – Echo Women’s Choir began a new season this fall, while staying apart from each other, everyone at home, still in isolation, and still meeting up weekly on Zoom for workshops and regular virtual meetups that aren’t quite the same as a rehearsal, but do have some singing and camaraderie. We’re still learning how to present our work in virtual video form, as the achievement part of our season, which is paired with the learning we are doing from teachers far and near. We’re very proud to know our voices are still sounding together … though with fewer singers, and all of us widely separated. Many thanks to the Echo Alumnae, guest artists and other singer friends who have joined us, virtually every week. Recording © 2020, The Echo Women's Choir Audio and video editing: Peter Turner Echo 2nd-Wave Pandemica Singers Alan Gasser, Artistic Director (and choral arranger), Susanne Maziarz, piano Thanks also to section leaders Alida Doornberg and Susanne Maziarz Lyrics: Better times, better times will come. Better times, better times will come. When this world learns to live as one, oh, better times will come When we greet each dawn without fear knowing loved ones soon will be near When the winds of war cannot blow any more Oh, better times will come Though we live each day as our last we know someday soon it will pass. We will dance, we will sing in that never-ending spring Oh, better times will come Echo Pandemica 1) Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart https://youtu.be/Poay7rLwtpQ 2) Fount https://youtu.be/52GRxvlMNAQ 3) Bird Song https://youtu.be/5SowPDbmqEk 4) Big Sky https://youtu.be/vnpuc-5afto 5) Hope https://youtu.be/o1jq9V0SHyQ 6) Better Times Will Come https://youtu.be/Cee4H6VoTfg
Better Times Will Come, by Janis Ian - performed by the Echo Women's Choir
YouTube Video UCpCp-aQALsQ1YvioHxEwJ9A_Cee4H6VoTfg
Hope, Words and music by Alex Bevan ©2020 Fiddler’s Wynde Music BMI (all rights reserved) http://alexbevan.com/ Virtual Tip Jar Paypal= alex@alexbevan.com Venmo = Alex-Bevan-4 Alex Bevan on Facebook -- for live @home mini-concerts, and live-stream events Starting in mid-March, Alex sang a daily mini-home-FB-live-concert in his basement every day for at least 100 days. He was voicing hope implicitly right after the briefings from the Ohio Governor and Dr Amy Acton. And in April, he wrote and sang a brand-new song about the message on the sidewalk. (Our choir director grew up in NE Ohio in the 70s, listening to Alex when he was known as the Skinny Little Boy.) Sept, 2020 – Echo Women’s Choir began a new season this fall, still staying home, still in isolation, and still meeting up weekly on Zoom for workshops and regular virtual meetups that aren’t quite the same as a rehearsal, but do have a bit of singing and camaraderie. We’re still learning how to present our work in virtual video form, as the achievement part of our season, which is paired with the learning we are doing from teachers far and near. We’re very proud to know our voices are still sounding together … though apart, with fewer singers, and all of us widely separated. Many thanks to the Echo Alumnae, guest artists and other singer friends who have joined us, virtually every week. Recording © 2020, The Echo Women's Choir Audio and video editing: Peter Turner Echo 2nd-Wave Pandemica Singers Alan Gasser, Artistic Director (and choral arranger) Thanks also to section leaders Alida Doornberg and Susanne Maziarz Lyrics: On the space in the middle of the old sidewalk (there was) Grace from a child with a chip of chalk Only four letters were all she wrote Just one word ... that word was “Hope” The backstory’s not hard to understand Her daddy drives a delivery van Mommy works and prays for masks It’s all about give and not about ask... If you don’t get it .... then I don’t know It’s not about the what... or the who you know While political minds position and fuss It’s not about them ... it’s all about us... It’s the old ... it’s the homeless ... it’s the shut out crowd The deplorables, adorables and “talks too loud!” This wound will heal ... it will leave a scar... It’s about you and me... it’s all we are Echo Pandemica 1) Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart https://youtu.be/Poay7rLwtpQ 2) Fount https://youtu.be/52GRxvlMNAQ 3) Bird Song https://youtu.be/5SowPDbmqEk 4) Big Sky https://youtu.be/vnpuc-5afto 5) Hope https://youtu.be/o1jq9V0SHyQ 6) Better Times Will Come https://youtu.be/Cee4H6VoTfg
Hope by Alex Bevan - performed by the Echo Women's Choir
YouTube Video UCpCp-aQALsQ1YvioHxEwJ9A_o1jq9V0SHyQ
Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart, text and music by Ali Burns https://www.aliburns.co.uk https://www.patreon.com/aliburns The motto song of our early online meetups: to be kind to ourselves and encourage each other. When we sang this one the first time, someone held up a lighter and swayed back and forth with her hands up. Fond memories of Ali Burns leading a song workshop last summer. May, 2020 – Echo Women’s Choir was preparing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with a spring concert on Mothers’ Day at Holy Trinity Church in downtown Toronto, where we usually sing. And then … we began a different program, of staying home, in isolation, and meeting up weekly on Zoom for something that wasn’t quite a rehearsal, but did have a bit of singing and camaraderie. These videos are the small part of our season that we thought we could manage to knit together out of our disappointment. We’re very proud of the effort we put out, and happy to sound virtually as good as we “really” do, only with fewer singers, and all of us widely separated. Many thanks to the Echo Alumnae, guest artists and friends of Emma who joined us. Recording © 2020, The Echo Women's Choir Audio and video editing: Peter Turner and Emma Whitla Echo Pandemica Singers Alan Gasser, Artistic Director Tahirih Vejdani Lopez, Assistant Conductor Thanks also to section leaders Alida Doornberg and Susanne Maziarz Piano accompaniment: Susanne Mariarz Lyrics: Do not carry a heavy heart Or the weight of the whole dark mountain Do not carry such a heavy heart But tend the earth in all its glory River deep and ocean wide 'Cos on this blue pearl that charms the moon We are the turning tide All and every one of us and all and every one Echo Pandemica 1) Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart https://youtu.be/Poay7rLwtpQ 2) Fount https://youtu.be/52GRxvlMNAQ 3) Bird Song https://youtu.be/5SowPDbmqEk 4) Big Sky https://youtu.be/vnpuc-5afto 5) Hope https://youtu.be/o1jq9V0SHyQ 6) Better Times Will Come https://youtu.be/Cee4H6VoTfg
Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart -- by Alison Burns, performed by the Echo Women's Choir
YouTube Video UCpCp-aQALsQ1YvioHxEwJ9A_Poay7rLwtpQ
Fount words by Malcolm Dalglish, except vv. 1 & 5 by Rev. Robert Robinson (1758) melody from Traditional American Hymn, with setting by Malcolm Dalglish. http://oooliticmusic.com/ http://oooliticmusic.com/contact.php One of our old familiar musical friends, Malcolm Dalglish, helped us celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Ten years later, we’re still ready to ford the “streams of mercy, never-ceasing, [as we] call for songs of loudest praise!” Echo Pandemica Singers Alan Gasser, Artistic Director Tahirih Vejdani Lopez, Assistant Conductor Thanks also to section leaders Alida Doornberg and Susanne Maziarz May, 2020 – Echo Women’s Choir was preparing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with a spring concert on Mothers’ Day at Holy Trinity Church in downtown Toronto, where we usually sing. And then … we began a different program, of staying home, in isolation, and meeting up weekly on Zoom for something that wasn’t quite a rehearsal, but did have a bit of singing and camaraderie. These videos are the small part of our season that we thought we could manage to knit together out of our disappointment. We’re very proud of the effort we put out, and happy to sound virtually as good as we “really” do, only with fewer singers, and all of us widely separated. Many thanks to the Echo Alumnae, guest artists and friends of Emma who joined us. www.echowomenschoir.ca Lyrics: Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy praise. Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. In the steadfast pull of ocean, In the sudden rain that falls, There's a wheel in constant motion, There's an ancient voice that calls. In the power of a river, all our faith becomes a boat; If we are to be delivered, we must watch & work & hope. There's no final destination, rivers bend and open wide; Elements of all creation join the never-ending tide Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. To praise the ground we walk upon it, ground of all redeeming love. Bring our lives and souls together, here on earth where we do roam Benefactors of a treasure, make us worthy of our home. Come, thou Fount ... Echo Pandemica 1) Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart https://youtu.be/Poay7rLwtpQ 2) Fount https://youtu.be/52GRxvlMNAQ 3) Bird Song https://youtu.be/5SowPDbmqEk 4) Big Sky https://youtu.be/vnpuc-5afto 5) Hope https://youtu.be/o1jq9V0SHyQ 6) Better Times Will Come https://youtu.be/Cee4H6VoTfg
Fount, by Malcolm Dalglish -- performed by the Echo Women's Choir
YouTube Video UCpCp-aQALsQ1YvioHxEwJ9A_52GRxvlMNAQ
Big Sky Music and lyrics by Seth Houston http://www.sethhouston.com Another classic of our early days, written by Dr. Houston, when he was a teenager in Village Harmony. How lovely to remember the days when we had "nary a fear," and how doubly important now to give all our respect to the Earth-Sisters, as we strive to "protect the ocean and air, forest, hill and plain, animal in flight ." May, 2020 - Echo Women's Choir was preparing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with a spring concert on Mothers' Day at Holy Trinity Church in downtown Toronto, where we usually sing. And then . we began a different program, of staying home, in isolation, and meeting up weekly on Zoom for something that wasn't quite a rehearsal, but did have a bit of singing and camaraderie. These videos are the small part of our season that we thought we could manage to knit together out of our disappointment. We're very proud of the effort we put out, and happy to sound virtually as good as we "really" do, only with fewer singers, and all of us widely separated. Many thanks to the Echo Alumnae, guest artists and friends of Emma who joined us. Recording © 2020, The Echo Women's Choir Audio and video editing: Peter Turner and Emma Whitla https:/www.echowomenschoir.ca Echo Pandemica Singers Alan Gasser, Artistic Director Tahirih Vejdani Lopez, Assistant Conductor Thanks also to section leaders Alida Doornberg and Susanne Maziarz Lyrics: When the way is clear, and sunlight shines, we pursue our way. With nary a fear, we follow straight lines day after blinding day. But the path gets blocked, and the sky turns black, forcing us to pause, And leave, with shock, our narrow track for one with fewer flaws. When the sky is blue and grass is green we seldom check to see If our pathway through this verdant scene leads toward harmony. Then danger shakes our selfish minds, we look to the sky, New lives to make, new paths to find; listen to her reply: "Live your lives," says she, "with keen respect for your sisters of the Earth. To be truly free, we must protect, with majesty and mirth; "The ocean and air, forest, hill, and plain, animal in flight, Are in your care, rejoice in the rain and walk the way of light." Echo Pandemica 1) Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart https://youtu.be/Poay7rLwtpQ 2) Fount https://youtu.be/52GRxvlMNAQ 3) Bird Song https://youtu.be/5SowPDbmqEk 4) Big Sky https://youtu.be/vnpuc-5afto 5) Hope https://youtu.be/o1jq9V0SHyQ 6) Better Times Will Come https://youtu.be/Cee4H6VoTfg
Big Sky – performed by Echo Women’s Choir
YouTube Video UCpCp-aQALsQ1YvioHxEwJ9A_vnpuc-5afto
Bird Song music by Heather Masse (of The Wailin' Jennys) lyrics - Heather Masse, Nicky Mehta http://www.thewailinjennys.com/ Here’s some three-part singing from the Wailin’ Jennys that seems perfect for our choir. Thanks to our Assistant Conductor Tahirih, for bringing them into our circle. May, 2020 – Echo Women’s Choir was preparing to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with a spring concert on Mothers’ Day at Holy Trinity Church in downtown Toronto, where we usually sing. And then … we began a different program, of staying home, in isolation, and meeting up weekly on Zoom for something that wasn’t quite a rehearsal, but did have a bit of singing and camaraderie. These videos are the small part of our season that we thought we could manage to knit together out of our disappointment. We’re very proud of the effort we put out, and happy to sound virtually as good as we “really” do, only with fewer singers, and all of us widely separated. Many thanks to the Echo Alumnae, guest artists and friends of Emma who joined us. Recording © 2020, The Echo Women's Choir Audio and video editing: Peter Turner and Emma Whitla https://www.echowomenschoir.ca Echo Pandemica Singers Alan Gasser, Artistic Director Tahirih Vejdani Lopez, Assistant Conductor Thanks also to section leaders Alida Doornberg and Susanne Maziarz Lyrics: I hear a bird chirping up in the sky, I'd like to be free like that, spread my wings so high. I see the river flowing, water running by, I'd like to be that river, see what I might find. I feel the wind a-blowing, slowly changing time, I'd like to be the wind, I'd swirl and shape the sky. I smell the flowers blooming, opening for spring, I'd like to be those flowers, open to everything. I feel the seasons change: the leaves, the snow and the sun. I'd like to be those seasons, made up and undone. I taste the living earth, the seeds that grow within, I'd like to be that earth, a home where life begins. I see the moon a-rising, reaching into night, I'd like to be that moon, a knowing, glowing light. I know the silence as the world begins to wake, I'd like to be that silence as the morning breaks. Echo Pandemica 1) Do Not Carry a Heavy Heart https://youtu.be/Poay7rLwtpQ 2) Fount https://youtu.be/52GRxvlMNAQ 3) Bird Song https://youtu.be/5SowPDbmqEk 4) Big Sky https://youtu.be/vnpuc-5afto 5) Hope https://youtu.be/o1jq9V0SHyQ 6) Better Times Will Come https://youtu.be/Cee4H6VoTfg License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
Bird Song - performed by Echo Women’s Choir
YouTube Video UCpCp-aQALsQ1YvioHxEwJ9A_5SowPDbmqEk
Vocal teacher Cate Frazier-Neely (https://www.catefnstudios.com/) offers a perspective on how the female voice changes over time, particularly in respect to perimenopause and menopause, with exercises to help keep the voice working and limber. The exercises: 09:20 - Engaging the cervical spine 12:59 - Breathing into the whole lung 15:32 - Chicken Wings - explosive breathing to prime the pump More resources: Singing Through Change: Women's Voices in Midlife, Menopause and Beyond https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Through-Change-Midlife-Menopause-ebook/dp/B08659YNSG Singing Through Change website, with extra resources: https://singingthroughchange.com/ Singing Through Change Active Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/singingthroughchange/
Singing through Menopause and Beyond: A short vocal workshop with Cate Frazier-Neely
YouTube Video VVVwQ3AtYVFBTHNRMVl2aW9IeEV3SjlBLlRsU0d2bHd5TmUw
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