Winter 2007
"We Are One"

“We Are One,” is a musical expression of Women in Harmony’s mission to sing for unity, to bring people together through music, and to build bridges among diverse groups and individuals. The first half of the concert will feature works based on musical styles of India, Zimbabwe, Spain and the Iroquois of Canada. The second half brings us closer to home with pieces by Fred Small, Holly Near, and others that affirm the strength of women and express Women in Harmony’s support for the lesbian community and commitment to ending homophobia.

• Stella Splendens, Anonymous (14th Century Catalonian)
• Wantane by Mark Sirett – an Iroquois soundscape featuring voices and percussion
• Artsa Alinu, arranged by Nina Gilbert
• Cor meum by Orlando di Lasso
• Dravidian Dithyramb by Victor Paranjoti
• Mbiri Kune Mwari by Lee Kesselman – for voices and percussion
• My Spirit be Joyful by Johann Sebastian Bach
• Weave by Rosemary Crow
• De Colores, arranged by Francisco Núñez
• Three Women by Carrie Newcomer, arranged J. David Moore
• Annie, by Fred Small, arranged by J. David Moore
• No More Silence by the Burns Sisters
• You Are That by Women in Harmony’s accompanist, Deana Ingraham Gurney (premiere)
• We Are by Ysaye Barnwell
• Singing for Our Lives by Holly Near, arranged by Ruth Huber
• Perfect Night by Jeff Langley and Holly Near, arranged by J. David Moore
• Song for Peace by Allister MacGillivray, arranged by Diane Loomer

Spring 2007
"Being Who You Are"

This concert featured Women in Harmony’s first commissioned work, “They Have Freckles Everywhere: Seven Pieces of Me” by Elizabeth Alexander of St. Paul, Minnesota. The piece featured seven wildly diverse musical portraits of our bodies' parts and parcels, based on poetry by the students in the Many Rivers Program at Fred P. Hall Elementary School in Portland. In addition, the chorus offered its usual eclectic mix of styles and traditions, including Child With the Starry Crayon by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley, Change of Heart by Holly Near, We Are by Ysaye Barnwell (Sweet Honey in the Rock), This Little Light of Mine, and Miss Celie’s Blues. Women in Harmony was also delighted to welcome the chorus from The Hall School as our guest performers.

January 2007
"Get on Board!"

On January 20-21, 2007, Women in Harmony presented a concert of choral music for women’s voices entitled Get on Board. The first portion of the program focused on the theme of the African-American experience, beginning with Strange Fruit, the haunting and powerful song made famous by Billie Holiday. It continued with Sweet Honey in the Rock’s Breaths and the lush and lyrical Nigra Sum by Pablo Casals, followed by a group of spirituals, including Go Down Moses, Deep River, Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel, and ended with a stunning arrangement of Get on Board by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory. The second half of the concert featured works by Edward Elgar, Stephen Chatman, Randall Thompson, and several pieces by George and Ira Gershwin, including Embraceable You, Clap Yo’ Hands, and a medley of well-loved Gershwin swing tunes.

May 2006
"Sister, Carry On"
Program:

• Ancient Mother - arranged by Justina Golden and Joyce Zymeck
• A Rose Trilogy by Eleanor Daly:
• A Red, Red Rose
• The White Rose
• The Lost Rose
• Wood River - arr. Willi Zwozdesky
• Three Women - Carrie Newcomer, arr. J. David Moore
• Wanting Memories -Ysaye Barnwell
• Sister, Carry On -Carolyn McDade
• We're Nursing as Fast as We Can - Joan Hill/C. Beller-McKenna
• Stormy Weather - Koehler/Arlen, arr. Lojeski
• Wade in the Jordan River -Clifton J. Noble, Jr.
• Quarry Weave -Meredith Monk
• Mae Frances -Bernice Johnson Reagon
• Set Her Free -Ruth Huber
• Swimming to the Other Side -Pat Humphries
• Encore: How Can I Keep from Singing -Quaker hymn

January 2006
"Everything Possible"

With special guest 11-13 year old youth singers Women in Harmony presented a concert of choral music for women's voices entitled Everything Possible. The concert featured the Maine premiere of Gwyneth Walker's Words of Strength, which Women in Harmony performed with a group of young guest singers. Ranging from age 11-13, these girls have came together from five different middle schools for this event. Walker's piece is based on the song 'Peace Like a River,' and consists of a dialogue between the younger girls and the adult women, ending with the affirmation that together they can build a life of hope. The girls also joined Women in Harmony in singing If You Can Walk You Can Dance by Elizabeth Alexander and Haida. The program included several other songs that touched on the theme of youth and its possibilities, including Music in my Mother's House, On Children and Everything Possible.

May, 2005
"Journeys and Homecomings"

The content of "Journeys and Homecomings" ranged in subject matter from the literal to the metaphorical, including songs about traveling, trains, and lost love, as well as pieces about spiritual and emotional journeys, growing old, and crossing to the other side. This event was dedicated to long-time Women in Harmony member Anine Burgess, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in the spring of 2001. Women in Harmony collaborated with the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to honor Anine at the concert. The program featured a new composition in honor of Anine by Women in Harmony member and resident composer Erica Quin-Easter, "Do you Remember?" and included Choo Choo Ch'boogie, by Vaughan Horton, Denver Darling and Milton Gabler, arr. Kirby Shaw; Over Oceans, by Jonatha Brooke and Jennifer Kimball; Gabriel's Trumpet, arr. Clifton J. Noble, Jr.; Comin' into My Years, by Betsy Rose, arr. J. David Moore; and Come in, from Frostiana, music by Randall Thompson, text by Robert Frost

January 2005
"Songs of Peace and Freedom"

Women in Harmony continued its tradition of singing for social justice by presenting Songs of Peace and Freedom, a concert of choral music in a variety of styles, including folk, classical, popular, and blues. The program featured several selections from our newly released tenth anniversary CD, Women in Harmony at Ten. The first half of the concert included Change of Heart by Holly Near (arr, J, David Moore), Down by the Riverside, and the premier of Walk, a new work by Women in Harmony's composer-in-residence Erica Quin-Easter. It ended with an English/Hebrew/Arabic of Tzena Tzena, the Israeli folk song made famous in the 1950s by the Weavers. The second half of the program includes Siyahamba, Connie Caldor's Mother's Prayer (arr. Willi Zwozdesky), Peace Is by Fred Small, and the poignant Israeli song for peace, Shir Lashalom.