denny Ethnic & National book

WINTERSONGS TOUR, December 1 -- 17, 2011 www.kitka.org Dec. 1 | Cuyamaca College, El Cajon, CA Dec. 3 | Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA Dec. 4 | Arts at St. Bede's, Menlo Park, CA Dec. 9 | St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Oakland, CA Dec. 10 | Dance Palace, Pt. Reyes Station, CA Dec. 11 | St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA Dec. 17 | Wintersongs Community Sing: Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA "A refreshing spin on traditional seasonal choral music... thoroughly marvelous!" -- National Public Radio Few things evoke the magic of the winter holidays like the splendor of the human voice raised in song, and for its part Kitka has discovered a treasure trove of seasonal music, from a wide variety of Eastern European ethnic and spiritual traditions. Wintersongs showcases material hailing from countries like Bulgaria and Belarus, Georgia and Greece, and from pre-Christian celebrations of the solstice to rousing Slavic folk carols, humorous Yiddish Chanukah songs, and lush, meditative Eastern Orthodox incantations. "Wintersongs taps into something deeply essential and ancient," says Kitka vocalist and executive director Shira Cion. "In our programming, we thought beyond simple tunes associated with the holidays. We wanted to evoke the mystery, the beauty—even the danger—of this time of year when the nights are so long, dark, and cold. A few of our songs capture the intensity of winter moods, while others embody the warmth, light, jubilation, and feelings of ...