A Magical Experience: The Making of a CD
Blogs
05.16.2018
Recording is hard work… surrendering to long hours of often repetitive music-making with hypervigilant attention to detail, patiently waiting for the airplane to pass overhead or the truck to rumble out of earshot on the adjacent gravel driveway, tuning and re-tuning temperamental, multi-stringed bowed instruments in ever-changing temperatures and humidity levels, conceding defeat to the inevitable sneeze, remaining calm during power outages and rain pelting on the roof…you get the idea.
All the while, the spirit of (and our love for) the music that we are preserving on a disc must remain front and center. All involved parties conspired to make this happen in our most recent recording project which took place at the Finnish Center at Saima Park in Fitchburg, MA the first weekend in May. Many people commented on the palpable magic of being on Finnish ground! An adult chorus of 39 folks, a children’s chorus of 14, brass quintet, tympani, handbells, harp, percussion, nyckelharpa, hardingfele, 5-string fiddle, double bass, gemshorns, solo singers and accordion filled the newly renovated barn with amazing music from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. (Ironically, the Finnish music is being recorded in CA). The cozy control room was established in the Finnish Library next to the barn, replete with costumes, instruments and beautiful books from and about Finland. The flowing brook provided a steady calming presence amidst these long, arduous and often joy-filled days. Best of all, we made some lovely new friends with the wonderful people who run and care for the Finnish Center…each one of them of Finnish descent. A big thanks to all at Saima Park, for your warm welcome and generous hospitality. Finally, a big thanks to George Emlen, for lending his sharp ear in the recording booth all weekend long. It was great to have George back in the thick of a Revels recording. Check back in a few months to order your copy of our new CD!
Thank you to Paul Buckley who gave up his Sunday to come out a photograph our recording. See the photos here.
Related Stories
See More
‘Selkie Girl’ may have a slim plot, but the show’s music makes
This year’s ‘Midwinter Revels’ blends two Mass. immigrant heritages
Boston Music Intelligencer REVIEW: Going Deeper Underground with “Secret Byrd”
Events Insider REVIEW: Revels Presents Immersive Musical Theatrical Experience SECRET BYRD at
Secret Byrd Spotlight: Owain Park
The Boston Musical Intelligencer PREVIEW: Don’t Tell Anyone About “Secret Byrd”
Revels Fringe Spotlight: Seven Times Salt
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Marina & Lena Nugent
Midwinter Revels Children’s Chorus Spotlight: Jacob & Mira Whiting
Boston Globe REVIEW: Midwinter Revels Serves Up a Frolicsome ‘Feast of Fools’
Theater Mirror REVIEW: Revels Goes Medieval in Swanson’s Swan Song with ‘Feast
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: You’d Be a Fool to Miss this Feast
Broadway World REVIEW: Midwinter Revels – A Journey of Comfort and Joy
Boston Globe HOLIDAY ARTS PREVIEW: A medieval ‘Midwinter Revels’ will suffer these
RiverSing Spotlight: Good Trouble Brass Band
Debra Wise Appointed Associate Artistic Director of Revels, Inc.
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Rosalba Solis
Midwinter Revels Performer Spotlight – Carolyn Saxon
Stage and Cinema REVIEW: Let the Revels’ Sun Shine into Your Home
The Arts Fuse REVIEW: “Midwinter Revels” — Unity, “Behold How Good”
New England Theater Mirror REVIEW: ‘Midwinter Revels’ Brings Together Multiple Cultures for
WBUR REVIEW: Revels is back with a more inclusive, rebranded holiday spectacular
Boston Globe REVIEW: A ‘Solstice Celebration’ for everyone
Midwinter Revels Chorus Spotlight – Heather Koerber Nunes and Jake Nunes
Chorus Auditions for The Midwinter Revels: A Celebration of the Solstice
Midwinter Revels – A Celebration of the Solstice
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Dr. Kathy Bullock
Revels Spring Sing Artist Spotlight: Claire Dickson
In Memory of Ashley Bryan
Common Pursuits in Different Suits
The Sleepless Critic: ‘Christmas Revels In Celebration of Winter Solstice’ a clever
The Arts Fuse: “The Christmas Revels 2021” — As Usual, Rising in
Joyce’s Choices: The Christmas Revels
New England Theater Mirror: Christmas Revels Returns to Sanders Theater
Revels, Inc. Names Elijah Botkin as New Music Director
Boston Globe Review: The ‘Christmas Revels’ celebrates a new direction
Behind the Scenes at Revels
Thanks Giving
Meet Arkansas Light, Christmas Revels Production Stage Manager
Artist Spotlight: Ken Field
Volunteer Spotlight: Haley Fisher
The Sleepless Critic Review: Christmas Revels 50th virtual anniversary delivers mirth, merriment,
Review: Christmas Classics – Virtual Editions and Good as New!!
Boston Globe Review: This virtual Christmas Revels is a virtual triumph
Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Grygorcewicz
Volunteer Spotlight: Nick Browse
Volunteer Spotlight: Ross Hall
Volunteer Spotlight: Harvey Cohen
Volunteer Spotlight: Cathie Ghorbani
Volunteer Spotlight: Mari Young
Volunteer Spotlight: Julie Smith
David Zooms to Perkins
Volunteer Spotlight: John Recroft
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!
Review: Christmas Revels Brings Its Special Cheer to Depression Era America
BWW Review: THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: A Long Tradition of Community Forged Through
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – American Version
REVIEW: Nearly 50, Christmas Revels is better than ever
REVIEW: This Christmas Revels goes to the American heartland
Thanksgiving
Solstice Duality
Happy Spring!
REVIEW: Christmas Revels Celebrates the ‘Other’ Great White North
REVIEW: ‘The Christmas Revels’ points north
Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – A Wonderful Nordic Celebration
Just Add Audience
The Longest Day
A Magical Experience: The Making of a CD
Malibu 2018
REVIEW: Revels’ ‘Venetian Celebration’ glitters
REVIEW: Old World Music, Comedy from Renaissance Era Lights Up Christmas Revels
St. Nicholas in Bohemia: Mikulas Eve
REVIEW: A handsome ‘Christmas Revels’ brings the party to Venice
A liberating holiday performance
The Master of the Revels
The Solstice Stands Revealed
Revels is here! Revels is here!
Striding Arches
Moonlighting with Shakespeare
What Blizzard?
Christmas Revels Enchants with Celebration of Acadian, Cajun Cultures
The Holy and the Broken Hallelujah Or How I learned to stop
This Acadian-Cajun Christmas Revels lets the good times roll
Annual Christmas Revels’ production fills the stage with delight
A Music Director Reflects
Fenway’s Ritual Earth
Welcome to Our New Music Director
Reflections on Malibu
‘Christmas Revels’ finally makes it to Wales
Christmas Revels – Looking Back and Looking Forward
Dylan Thomas: the intersection where poetry and drama meet
Revels Music Director George Emlen Announces His Retirement
Giving Voice
A Revels Director in Wales
Summer solstice: the year’s circus act
The Boston Globe profiles harpist Maeve Gilchrist and Revels FRINGE
Reporting on Education at Revels
The Great Flying Machine Race
The Wheel of the World
What’s Your Version of the Revels Elephant?
Farewell from Steve
Summer Camp
Fuse Theater Review: The Christmas Revels – Charming English Music Hall Edition
The Boston Globe Review: For Christmas Revels, a welcome return to Victorian
Events Insider Review: Christmas Revels Brings Victorian Dance Hall Celebration to Sanders
TAB Newspapers Theater Review: Revels transports audiences to Victorian England
The Crystal Palace
Don’t Blame Persephone
From the FRINGE: Who’s Maeve Listening to?
Solstice Fires
Patriot’s Day – My Favorite Holiday
A Forum on Arts Funding
Spring Forward
The Itinerant Musician
Welcome to the Revels blog
Stay up to date
with Revels.
with Revels.
Sign up to receive email updates on performances, events, and news coming from Revels.