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Raversong

EJAU! I WALKED

About Me

"EJAU! a four song e-EP inspired by Lithuanian folk music ("sutartine" rounds), represents my actual "walkabout" and personal journey to connect with my mother's estranged homeland through the ancient music of Lithuanian women. This little album is a sampling of several experimental songs and recordings with Lithuanian musicians culminating in compositions which combine traditional folk song, poetry and my own music and lyrics. The title cut, Ejau (which means, "I walked), was also composed in Lithuania, though after attempts to rehearse the song overseas, I came to the realization that this particular song was meant to be shared and recorded with my four Lithuanian-American sisters in Wyoming ~ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIO: D. Raver (Raversong): A former U.S. Fulbright to Lithuania in ethnomusicology (2001-2002), D. Raver's research interest is "Sutartines", Lithuanian polyphonic folk songs of unknown origin which have been passed down by women for hundreds of years. Raver's fascination with this art form began nearly a decade ago; it now spills over into her songwriting and personal essays. Writing---whether through lyrics, music, memoir or journaling, has been an intrinsic way of processing and integrating dual cultures, that of her mother’s homeland of Lithuania and her own American identity as a native of Wyoming. The music heard on the 4 song album (EJAU!) underscores Ms. Raver's autobiographical story entitled "Migrating Between Songlines", a sojourn of self-discovery in a foreign land as she trekked through the language and landscape of music to find the missing pieces of her Lithuanian heritage. Raver's story has recently been published in the book “Wyoming Fence Lines: An Anthology of Prose and Poetry in conjunction with the Smithsonian exhibition, "Between Fences" which travels around Wyoming September 2007-2008. EJAU! the digital ep album can be heard at no cost on this web page.This photo album reflects some of the people and places found in the real life story "Migrating Between Songlines" by D. Raver, published in the book "Wyoming Fence Lines" (available on amazon.com or order through your local bookstore).

Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Greenman tile

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/8/2007
Band Website: myspace.com/raversong
Band Members: "Raversong" consists of D. Raver as an independent singer, songwriter and musician (playing guitar, piano, percussion, and with some coaxing--the banjo), as well as the musical collective that she experiments with. On this E.P., Raver collaborated with several musicians in Lithuania and Wyoming:

"Ejau" [2005]. D. Raver: 12 string guitar, 6 string guitar, electric guitar, tambourine-1, cymbal, lead vocal, harmony vocals; songwriter/arranger (built the song from sutartine "Ejau" and original lyrics and music) . Sisters Syna, Laurie, Eydie, Marjorie: Harmony vocals. Tupelo Kenyon: Mandolin, electric guitar. Janie Kenyon: Tambourine-2. "The Harvest Song" [2003]. D. Raver: Lead vocal, harmony vocal, 12 string guitar; songwriter/arranger (built the song around the sutartine "bitela bite"; poetry; and D. Raver's original music). The "Verdingis" folklore ensemble led by Vida and Dangis Laurenviciene: supporting harmony vocals, sutartine vocals, violin, standing bass. The poem "Rugpjutis" from which the verses of "The Harvest Song" were adapted was written by Justinas Marcenkevicius. ("The Harvest Song" is enhanced by listening to the "prelude" which is the traditional folk Sutartine that forms the chorus. The prelude was performed by several women of the Verdingis ensemble.) "Dobilio" (Clover Dance) [2000]. Zemyna Trinkunaite: kankles, (composer-kankles part). D. Raver: vocals; composer-lyrics and vocal melody. Engineer for "The Harvest Song" and "Dobilio" is Giedrius Klimka. He also co-produced The Harvest Song. You may view his website at: gkgbluescats.com. "Ejau" was engineered by Tupelo Kenyon at laughingbirdmusic.com. in Story, Wyoming. "Thanks everyone!!" :) -dr "I cast a spell on the letters and it made a word"-M. Raver (copyright 2007). ARTWORK: "Friendship" by Lithuanian composer and painter M.K. Ciurlionis, 1875-1911. For his bio go to http://www.muziejai.lt/Kaunas/M_K_Ciurlionis.htmBiography


Influences: Sutartines--Lithuanian Polyphonic Songs created and passed down by women for centuries. En-chanting! You will hear the influences of sutartines on this EP (Ejau! and The Harvest Song Prelude).
Sounds Like: Loreena McKennit is a force unto herself and continues to inspire me with her intrepid explorations of celtic song and heritage. ....In my own sound-shaping it has been most comforting to lean on the integrity of the Sutartine--as Lithuanian women have done before me-- to make a space for the female voice. The homespun rules of the canons are designed to weave our disparate selves into wholeness so that we may be soulfully attuned to more than just the physical manifestations of the sounds we create alone and together.--Photos taken by D. Raver during field research 2001-2003
Record Label: I cast a spell on the letters and it made a word
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Find me at Folk Alleys Open Mic

New!  Now you can hear Raversong on Folk Alley's Open Mic.  www.folkalley.com/openmic/   Once there, go to the bottom of the page to see me as "New Artist", then click on Rave...
Posted by Raversong on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:01:00 PST

Lithuanian Christmas

Below is a brief article about Lithuanian Christmas traditions.   --While in Lithuania, I was honored to receive several invitations to partake in Kucios, the traditional Christmas eve dinne...
Posted by Raversong on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:12:00 PST

Rumi-nating on Sutartines

Rumi-nating on Sutartines..."swirling" dervishes?  I am captivated by an NPR article I read today which said that the well known poet "Rumi  [born 800 years ago today on September...
Posted by Raversong on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:15:00 PST

Mad men in a mad world? No, this is Biplan.

It was June 23, 2003, the eve of Jonines, and I was in Vilnius (Lithuania) to pay homage to the people by performing The Harvest Song as part of the token "warm up folk band" to the Lithuanian celebri...
Posted by Raversong on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 09:31:00 PST

A word about the video (Twilight to the Gods)

The video you're about to see features the kankles, the Lithuanian zither like instrument you hear Zemyna playing on Dobilio (the fourth song featured in my music player on myspace.com/raver...
Posted by Raversong on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:50:00 PST

Check out this video: Lithuania-Twilight of the Gods

Check out this video: Lithuania Add to My Profile | More Videos...
Posted by Raversong on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:44:00 PST

Smithsonian Museum Exhibition "BETWEEN FENCES" comes to Wyoming

The Book Wyoming Fence Lines... with D. Raver's story "Migrating Between Songlines" will accompany the year long new Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Exhibition coming to Wyoming September 2007....
Posted by Raversong on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:17:00 PST

D. Raver's "Migrating Between Songlines"...now available for order on Amazon.com...

D.Raver's essay "Migrating Between Songlines" in WYOMING FENCE LINES: An Anthology of Prose and Poetry is in print and now available for pre-order at www.Amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.co...
Posted by Raversong on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:49:00 PST

The Clan Singers: Lithuanias female chanting tradition, D. Raver

---This is the abstract of the paper I presented at Idaho State University for The Art of Gender in Everyday Life Conference. Raver, D. The Clan Singers: Lithuania's female chanting tradition Ab...
Posted by Raversong on Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:01:00 PST

Announcing Wyoming Fence Lines: An Anthology of Prose and Poetry

Check it out! The book has just been published where you can find "Migrating Between Songlines", the story of my travels to Lithuania which chronicles Ejau and the music you've heard on MySp...
Posted by Raversong on Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:42:00 PST