First prduction and cast meeting!

On Saturday, Jan. 8 a large and enthusiastic group came together to meeting with Murray and Eleanor, to start to create the new music-drama.

Murray, Marie and set designer Bruce Downey

Murray, Eleanor, Marie and Sarah

I love this quotation by Murray which I have posted at the left. Katharine Smithrim showed it to me two years ago, but I have experienced this in the work of Murray Schafer many times through the years. Schafer (2002) spoke of the purpose of art in a way that surprised me with its extreme language, at the same time explaining logically the practical application of art in every day life.

Schafer’s words evoke states of being that are of mythical proportions. I believe that if I have the courage to engage in my life at this level, every moment could have the potential for exultation. The idea of engaging at this level of intensity on a regular basis may be daunting to most of us because it requires such a strong emotional response. However, to accept this challenge may provide a way to live more fully present to natural responses, aware that strong emotion is manageable, and so free to come and go in one's system.

My personal experience has been that when I have allowed the creative process to unfold freely, the result is always more than I could have imagined. Consequently I have expanded my capacity for joyful living, life becomes more adventurous, and more orderly at the same time.

And So We Begin

Welcome to the Many Gifts One Spirit Blog, The Schafer Project Part 2. This blogspot has been set up to provide updated information for people interested in the production of Answer to Job, a music drama to be created by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer and his partner Eleanor James. My name is Marie Anderson and I will be providing musical direction for the production. Sarah Gibson Bray will be the director, and we will both be working under the vision and guidance of Murray and Eleanor.

Last year, after presenting Jonah, Schafer’s music-drama based on the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale, many of us became interested in the idea of commissioning Murray to create a music-drama at Sydenham Street United Church: a project that could involve the greater Kingston community. We met with Murray and Eleanor to discuss the process. Last spring, we asked the Sydenham Street United Church congregation to propose biblical stories that they thought would resonate in our time. Almost all of the stories were from the Old Testament. In late June we met to discuss the stories that had been suggested and shortened the list to four stories that would be suggested to Murray and Eleanor. We met with Murray and Eleanor in October. The story that they were most interested in was the story of Job.

In November, 2010, Sarah and I met with people interested in the project. Dana Charlton had brought a synopsis of the story of Job and our minister Elizabeth copied this out for everyone. Morna Graf read it to everyone and this sparked a lively discussion! From the variety of topics discussed it is clear that the biblical story is relevant in so many ways. People are already invested in the parts of the story that they find relevant. Sarah and I wrote down everything that was said. And so we have begun.

The wonderful part of this project is that all opinions will be heard, and the show will be crafted by the participants, guided by the overall vision of R. Murray Schafer and Eleanor James. We will post all ideas on this blog and there will be a place for you to add your comments to all posts. This is one more way to contribute to the creation of this exciting new work.