MUSE - Cincinnati's Women's Choir

In 1984, Catherine Roma, a new doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, held the first MUSE auditions. From those auditions, twenty some women emerged who shared a vision of a women's choir. That vision was of a choral community that reflected their wish for the world: a place where differences would be celebrated and where women of many colors, ages, cultures, and lifestyles would come together in harmony. Within six weeks of the first rehearsal, MUSE made its debut on International Women's Day, 1984. Twenty-four women performed three songs at the Cement Mixers Union Hall in the Walnut Hills area of Cincinnati. Today, MUSE performs in about 30 venues each season and has grown to sixty singers with a volunteer staff of over a dozen. Now highly regarded nationally as well as in the greater Cincinnati area, MUSE continues to be guided by the original vision of that early group of women.

From the outset, MUSE solicited arrangements of music to fit the collective voices of a women's choir, and commissioned choral works by women composers. In the early years, the choir sang many songs from the folk, peace and social justice traditions, and searched for silenced voices of women in the world of classical music. Many choir members held in common some form of a progressive socialist-feminist perspective, while the main area of diversity for members to explore and learn to appreciate was that of sexual orientation. After a few years, MUSE began inviting musicians to present workshops in an effort both to expand the sound of the choir and to learn about the voices of women making music in diverse communities within the United States and throughout the world. The choir studied Balkan women's music with Ethel Raim, women's jazz expression with Rhiannon, lesbian women's music with Holly Near and Kay Gardner, and the African American musical tradition with Bernice Johnson Reagon and Ysaye Maria Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock. This period of exploration led to an expanded definition of the MUSE choral community, embracing cultural diversity as a priority. At the same time, MUSE broadened its vision of movements for social justice to include the South African struggle against apartheid and the Nueva Cancion movement of liberation in Central and South America.

Since 1994, MUSE has participated in The New Spirituals Project, as one of five choirs nationwide performing a series of commissioned works by women which explore the living tradition of African-American and African-Caribbean spirituals. In recent years, MUSE has participated in several multi-cultural community-building alliances such as a tour of Ohio Women's Prisons with the Ohio Unity Choir and a gospel choir song fest held at New Prospect Baptist Church in Over-the-Rhine to raise finds for a neighborhood education center. MUSE has grown through the last fifteen years so that today it truly is composed of "women of many colors, ages, and cultures" -- and women of different class backgrounds, sexual orientation, spiritual traditions and political values as well. From these varied perspectives and experiences, what unites the choir is a passion for social justice, a love of music, and and the inspiration of joining together in song.

Discography

Growing Into Our Roots

Wanting Memories Duerme Negrito Foolish Notion I Ain't Afraid Imagine My Suprise S'Wonderful The Summer Day Emma Go Down Moses Greed Step By Step Three Waulking Songs Mother's Prayer Wage Peace Mayim Maya It Don't Mean A Thing Sayitshaya and Vulani Amasango Song of the Exile Emily Remembers I Feel Like Going On

Fifty Six-strong MUSE is a women's choir dedicated to musical excellence and social change. Believing that diversity is strength, they are feminist women of varied ages, races and ethnicities, with a range of life experiences, political interests and musical abilities. Heterosexual, lesbian and bisexual, these are women loving women united in song, seeking out pieces composed by women, songs that enhance women's voices, and a concert experience that entertains, inspires, motivates, heals and creates a spirit of community in their audience. Some of our favorites of these 20 songs were commissioned by MUSE, Holly Near's "Foolish Notion" and "I Ain't Afraid" (with the spot-on refrain about religious fundamentalism, "I ain't afraid of your praying, I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your god"), Therese Edell's "Emma," and Sweet Honey in the Rock's Beatrice Johnson Reagon's "Greed" (from "Anybody Here"). Other favorites are "Step By Step," "Three Walking Songs," Connie Kaldor's "Mother's Prayer," Jennifer Stasack's "Wage Peace," Daniel Galay's "Mayim Maya" and "Emily Remembers" by Shirley Eikhard. Also wonderful are George Gershwin's "S'Wonderful," Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing" and Ysaye Maria Barnwell's lovely a cappella "Wanting Memories." Extensive to light accompaniment on most songs. "Growing" is a powerful, thought-provoking, inspirational CD that touches us on many levels!

Sing to the Universe Who We Are

Babethandaza Change of Heart Miss Celie's Blues We Are Les Sirenes On Children Take Back the Guns Shir Lashalom Let Us Now Hold Hands Seven Principles A Small But Fateful Victory Simply Love Everything Possible To Be Strong Wade in the Watah

These selections are as distinct as the members of MUSE. The traditional Zulu song "Babethandaza," "Let Us Now Hold Hands," by Jennifer E. Stasack and Pat Mora, and "La Andina Woman of the Andes," by Libby Harding and "Mountain Songs" by Holly Near are among many which are sure to become favorites. This recording reflects MUSE's commitment to a diverse, exciting repertoire, musical excellence and social change.

7251 CD $15.98

Live

Will the Circle Be Unbroken (the only unaccompanied track) We'll Understand it Better By and By Take Heart Her Song Rises Mountain Song / Kentucky Woman Carry It On Annie The New Underground Railroad Vila Moma Polegala Git On Board Yes, You Will the Circle Be Unbroken

This CD is a collection of live recordings of Balkan chants to Appalachian songs. Four songs come from the MUSE concert honoring people of Appalachian descent (Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Mountain Song/Kentucky Woman, Carry It On). "Take Heart," "Git On Board/The Gospel Train," "Yes,You" and "We'll Understand It Better By and By" come from several of their New Spirituals concerts which feature music from the African American tradition by contemporary arrangers and composers. This 2002 recording captures MUSE's diverse concert experience.

7253 CD $15.98

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