Music Store:
NEW CD! "Mountain Side"
Personal Favorites from Rise Up Singing
"Meet Me by the Moonlight"
Where Have All the Flowers Gone:
A Singalong Memoir - new edition!
including live recordings of his Solstice celebrations heard on NPR
NY Times article "Shared Song - Communal Memory" talks about Annie & Peter, the origins of Rise Up Singing & ways it's being used in singalong around the country.
So, what are Quakers? (And do they even sing???!!!)
Peter's Quakerism writings have been moved to a new website: InwardLight.org
Information on Quaker Spring has been moved to a new website:QuakerSpring.org
homepage
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I was a picker of fruit –
I and scores of Young Friends
gathered in orchards fall after fall,
Circled the trees joyfully,
lifted each apple
gently off its hanging home.
Breathed in the clear autumn air,
Looked out over treetop to rolling hills
and other treetops and blue skies.
Cooked hearty meals and sang and
prayed with aching bones
when the day’s work was done.
The air was so clear you longed to breathe it forever.
The world raged with war
and dreams of justice.
And we dreamed of a way
to do no harm in our labors –
in community.
(I reached too far once:
The supporting bough broke,
my arm broke.
Helen tended me,
I healed,
The others picked on.)
Jesus said to Peter & Andrew
that he would make them “fishers of men”,
And he did.
Now in this great dark hungry world,
Who will reach out and gather
disciples today
Who will dream & work together to gather
souls – ripe & ready for the harvest?
(And will young dreamers pick apples again?)
Written Dec. 26, 2000 after seeing the movie “Cider House Rules” & dreaming the next night about teaching schoolchildren to pick apples.
Published Aug. 2001 issue of Quaker Life.
© 2001 Peter Blood
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UPCOMING EVENTS & WORKSHOPS with Annie & Peter
WFCR interview with Peter and Annie. Hear us talk about sing-alongs and the origins of Rise Up Singing with live performances of several favorite songs. New York NY, Sat. May 5 - People's Voice Cafe, Community Church of NY, 40 E. 35th St (betw Madison & Park), 8pm (doors open 7:30). Annie & Peter will lead a sing along and Four Shillings Short is also on the bill later this evening. 212-787-3903. Newton MA. Sun. May 13 - Mother's Day family concert, 2pm at Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street. Benefit for Mother's Milk Bank of New England. You can buy tickets online at the MMBNE website, call 617-527-6283 or view the concert flyer.
Kingston RI, Fri. July 6 - We will be taking part in another performance of "The Fire & the Hammer" - which Peter organized & we both took part in at New England Yearly Meeting last August. The final evening plenary of the 2012 Friends General Conference summer gathering. Detailed information on the performance & how to apply to join the choir is posted now on the FGC website.
See also swing performances Annie is doing with:
GIRLS FROM MARS and The O-TONES
promoting efforts to secure a Nobel Peace Prize for legendary folk singer & environmental & peace activist, Pete Seeger. A new edition of Seeger's autobiography (which Peter edited) is coming out this spring.
There are some great quotes from Pete on the power of group singing in the recent New York Times article on community sings around the country, many of which use Rise Up Singing.
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