Note, this concert was postponed to February due to covid.

Seasonal Songs of Sustenance from Balkan, Baltic, Caucasian, and Slavic Lands

A refreshing spin on traditional seasonal choral music… thoroughly marvelous! — NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
Few things evoke the magic of the winter holidays as the transcendent splendor of the human voice. Kitka has researched and discovered a treasure trove of seasonal music from a wide variety of Eastern European ethnic and spiritual traditions. Wintersongs showcases material ranging from rousing Slavic folk carols to lush, meditative Eastern Orthodox sacred choral works, to original new pieces inspired by the beauty and mystery of wintertime.
Kitka's 2023 Wintersongs theme is "Sustenance". This year's program is a musical response to the question ‘What sustains us in times of darkness, scarcity, uncertainty and hardship?"
Concert highlights include songs that express wonder and gratitude for the miracle of creation, the diversity of life on earth, and the mysterious influences of heavenly bodies; folk carols that bestow blessings upon families and friends gathered around hearth fires and feast tables; songs that express faith and devotion to divine beings; humorous songs that heal us with laughter, songs that call out for peace on earth, and songs that summon hope for rebirth and renewal in springtime. This musical offering is also a tribute to the power of harmony to nourish feelings of community and connectedness.
ABOUT KITKA WOMEN’S VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Inspired by traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe and Eurasia, Kitka has earned international recognition for its distinctive sound, exploring a vast palette of ancient yet contemporary-sounding vocal effects. Kitka's commitment to presenting traditional song as a living and evolving expressive art form has led to adventurous collaborations with some of the world's most exciting indigenous musicians and contemporary composers ranging from Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares to Meredith Monk. Currently celebrating its 44th season, Kitka began as a grassroots group of amateur singers from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds who shared a passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, and resonant strength of traditional Eastern European women's vocal music. Since its informal beginnings, the group has evolved into an award-winning touring ensemble known for its artistry, versatility and mastery of the demanding techniques of regional vocal styling, as well as for its innovative explorations in new music for women's voices. The ensemble's wide-ranging performance, teaching and recording activities have exposed millions to the haunting beauty of their unique repertoire.
For more information visit: http://www.kitka.org