Through initiating global musical collaborative projects, such as "Lullabies for Free Children", based on simple, deep, and universal ideas, it is hoped that opportunities for international participation will inspire diverse composers, especially women, throughout the world. As the project develops, if you are in Europe, feel free to collaborate with a composer or poet in China; if you are in Canada, feel free to seek out and collaborate with a woman in South America; let us try to connect the world in the spirit of freedom, hope, and love of deepest truth.
The project will continue till the end of 2006.
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JUNE 6th 2005.
Greetings from Joan Yakkey and Shelley Olson to everyone interested in the Lullabies for Free Children project. We have been discussing the details of the Lullaby project and we thank you for the wonderful support from around the world. We are delighted to have received excellent ideas from many people and we are currently incorporating these ideas and suggestions into the evolving Lullaby project.
At the start, the project was left open to broad ideas and it struck an unanticipated positive cord with many people in the world; we have received enormous response. We are writing to share a synthesis of some ideas which we have received to date regarding new compositions and new recordings that will be donated to the Lullabies for Free Children project.
The following list can serve as a guideline and as a response to some of your excellent questions.
1. COMPOSERS
We welcome diversity: all languages and styles, accompanied, solo or polyphonic song. Pieces should be limited to a maximum of 5 minutes in length. Women composers are especially encouraged to participate, however the project is open to men, women, students and child composers. Composers may keep in mind the performance resources available to them and write accordingly to facilitate performance.
The same poem can be set to music by more than one composer.
Bilingual songs would promote friendship among different cultures and therefore are encouraged.
2. PERFORMERS
Performers (singers, instrumentalists, conductors, choral groups etc) are encouraged to contact composers in order to let them know about their interest and possibilities for performance of the Lullabies, including the current range of voice and instrumentation available within their groups and possible schedule for performance or recording.
3. POETRY
Children�s poetry is especially encouraged but the project is also open to the poetry of women and men. A defining characteristic of the Lullaby project is the emphasis on positives values for the 21st century. The subject of the poetry for the Lullabies needs to reflect this philosophy and needn�t be restricted to the traditional concept of a song that puts a child to sleep. Please refer to the statement about the philosophy, below. Bilingual poems/lyrics, including minority languages, are particularly welcome within the same composition. Persons using lesser known languages are encouraged to include translations into English or another widely spoken language in order to facilitate global performance.
4. SHARING MUSIC
We recommend keeping a virtual library of new pieces on computers that would be available to the other participants of the project. Formats such as PDF files and WORD files with scanned pages of previously printed music inserted, work very well and can be accessed even by those who have basic computer facilities. Composers who have additional ideas for sharing music may coordinate with the recipient of the file. If you are asking for music from a composer, please work out details directly with the composer because there are many systems for sharing scores.
5. PUBLISHERS
Possible publishing is under consideration.
6. RECORDING FACILITIES
Here we are asking for help. If you, your university or other organisation has recording facilities, please use them. Also please let us know about possible recording facilities which might help others in the project.
7. SCHOOLS / CHURCHES & OTHER INSTITUTIONS
It would be useful to know which organisations can offer performance spaces for concerts and their locations. Please send us this information to add to the data base.
8. INDIVIDUALS (Journalists, Visuals Artists, Choreographers, etc.)
We welcome persons who would like to publicize this project or further extend the Lullaby material into other fields.
9. PHILOSOPHY
All compositions should relate to positive topics for the 21st century such as: international friendship, peace, creativity, religious tolerance, love, ecology, human dignity, equal rights, etc. The Lullaby project is honoured to collaborate with the Daniel Pearl Foundation which shares common values as quoted in the following statement by the Foundation�s President and Daniel Pearl's father, Judea Pearl: "Daniel Pearl Music Days combines music with an important message of tolerance and respect for all."
10. FUNDING
We hope to make a CD compilation of some of the recordings of Lullabies donated to the project for distribution among ourselves, for broadcast and other possibilities. We hope that you will be able to collaborate with others for recordings of single tracks which would then be donated to the Lullabies project, using available facilities, in order to keep costs low. Funding, however, will be necessary in order to compile final CDs that will include many recorded tracks. We welcome donors, philanthropists and others who could help defray the cost of the final CD project. Donors should contact the project coordinators.
We appreciate feedback or any additional ideas that you feel you would like to add to the above list. Please keep us informed of your activities and other developments concerning the project in order to keep our data base updated. The philosophy of the Lullabies project is not only to encourage �positive globalism� but also to collaborate among ourselves around the globe. When either poetry or compositions are complete, please notify Joan Yakkey or Shelley Olson. Project submissions should include the name of poet, name of composer, country of origin, language/s of composition and written permission for use of material.
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The Daniel Pearl Foundation will be celebrating Daniel Pearl Music Days, dedicated to �Harmony for Humanity� October 1 - 10, 2005 and has generously offered Global Satellite Radio Broadcast of some of the Lullabies. These broadcasts of recordings of Lullabies will launch our Lullabies for Free Children project to the global community. This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate in achieving a global voice dedicated to making the world a better place through music. The Daniel Pearl Foundation, formed by Daniel's family and friends, is a non-profit organization that promotes cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music and innovative communications.
To participate in this important broadcast we need recordings of some new Lullabies by mid September. All material must be in CD format and of broadcast quality. We realize this is very early as a call for new material and that most pieces will be performed and recorded at a later date but we appreciate all early contributions. At this time it is impossible to know how many pieces will be included on the broadcasts.
All songs should relate to the philosophy of the Lullabies project as described above and should be a donation to "Lullabies for Free Children".
For possible inclusion in upcoming October broadcast,
please contact project coordinator
SHELLEY OLSON, composer,
[email protected]
For more information about Daniel Pearl Music Days please visit:
http://www.nab.org/Newsroom/PressRel/Releases/4303.htm
http://www.danielpearl.org/
Daniel Pearl Music Days uses the power of music to promote cross-cultural understanding and reaffirm our commitment to humanity. Anyone can participate by dedicating a pre-scheduled musical concert or a song, or by organizing a special event, as part of Daniel Pearl Music Days with a statement from the stage or in the written program in support of tolerance and humanity. Please visit:
http://www.music-days.org/
"Lullabies for Free ChildrenTM" was developed by composer Shelley Olson for IAWM (International Alliance for Women in Music).