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"Singing is Sacred - Singing Heals - Singing is Life"
Doris Williams performs live as a solo artist, and with her band Celtic Rose. She
also is called to provide singing and prayerful comfort for those that have mental,
physical, or spiritual illness, coming to their home, hospital, or hospice.
Contact her at 650-213-6463
or by e-mail: doris.sings@mindspring.com.
Her repertoire of Celtic, Renaissance, and American Folk is an ideal medium that transports her listeners to a safe, and comforting place, a place for
expressing what makes us spiritual human beings - our stories of love, sorrow, joys,
and healing. Blessed as it is with a fluidity and transcendence it allows her listeners to rejoin the distant parts of our historic cultural tapestry. She accompanies herself on lute Renaissance, Celtic, and American songs, dance tunes, and instrumentals. In her band Celtic Rose she plays lute and tin whistle. She has shared the stage with Peter Daldry, Pat Ryan, Andrew Davis, Sean
Lightholder, Karl Franzen, Ernest Kinsolving, Alan Keith, Gary Breitbart, Mike Bell,
Caroline Garbarino, and many other local musicians.
Press Review of Renaissance & Beyond:
a review in Folknik, San Francisco Music Club organization. Article written by John Kelly.
You don't have to be an early music aficionado to enjoy this recording. Doris starts boldly with 16th century songwriter Claudin de Sermisy's "Tant que vivray". The first stanza is sparsely arranged, just voice and lute; then the second stanza adds another lute and recorder. Doris' voice is rich and buttery, with a dark quality rarely heard in sopranos.
The most original track is "Like the nun who sings to none" with a melody by Doug Young, south bay jazz guitarist, and lyrics by Doris' mother, Margaret Ann Sayres. A Welsh folk song, "Adar Man" provides a meditative transition to the spirited conclusion, Rory Cooney's "Canticle of the Turning". The lyrics are a reworking of the Magnificat, itself a bit of Hebrew folk poetry.
Doris kicks it along and brings out its joy, hope, and wonder. Renaissance and Beyond is a good recording if you'd like to hear the roots of today's song genres - or if you simply enjoy beautiful singing and playing. The Singing Angel, as it says on the Cd Cover.
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New CD: Renaissance And Beyond
For Sale Now At: CD Baby » |
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Saturday, May 12, 3 p.m. Foothill Presbyterian Church, 5301 McKee Rd. San Jose.
Musici della Doria, Doris Williams Early Music ensemble performs Early 17th Century
Songs of Love, Nature, and Loss from Shakespeare, Jonson, Dryden and Baif. Music by
Caccini, Dowland, Johnson, Lawes, and Battaile. Also featuring Howard Kadis, lute,
Jonathan Harris, recorder, Mary Prout, gamba.
Donations are $10.
(Notes on May 12: I will be singing What the Italians and French and English considered reviving
the ancient Greeks ideals of meter and affectation with one single melody. This
was essentially the beginnings of Opera in Italy. Composers include Caccini, and his famous "Amarilli mia bella", Dowland, Battaile,
Henry Lawes, Johnson's setting of two famous tunes: "Full Fathom Five" from The
Tempest, and "Have you seen a white lily grow." from The Devil is an Ass by Ben
Jonson... Performers are Howard Kadis on the long-necked lute, otherwise know as the
archlute, Mary Prout: gamba, and Jonathan Harris: recorders.)
Saturday June 16 & Sunday June 17 Santa Cruz County FairGrounds, Watsonville, Loch
Lomond Highland Games and Celtic Gathering. Celtic Rose, Doris Williams and Karl
Franzen perform on several live stages throughout the fair. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
~~ Recent Performances ~~
Sunday, January 22 4 p.m. St. Bede's Episcopal Church, 2650 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo
Park. Renaissance Songs of Love, Doris Williams, Howard Kadis, Jonathan Harris.
Mary ProutTickets: in advance ($15/12) at brownpapertickets.com
At the door $20/17 senior/12 student/5 under 12
Saturday, February 11 Angelica's Bistro, 6:30 - 8:30 will include Celtic Rose and Ken
Brown, gypsy jazz guitarist. Tickets $10 in advance at www.angelicasbistro.com $15 at the door. call 650-365-3226
Saturday, March 10, 7:30 p.m. Willow Glen Coffee Roasting, Celtic Rose performs
Renaissance, Celtic, and Originals.
Wednesday, March 14, 6:30 p.m. Cambrian Library, 1780 Hillsdale Ave, San Jose
Celtic Rose performs Celtic Cross-Over Songs - From the Celtic Lands to the
Americas. 408-808-3080
Friday, March 23, The Ugly Mug Cafe, 4640 Soquel Drive, Soquel 831-477-1341. 6 -
7:30 p.m.Doris Williams and Mike Bell performing Celtic, Renaissance, Americana, and
Originals. Come for organic coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and vegan options.
Saturday, March 31, 2 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 150 E. Fernando St., San
Jose, 408-808-2000. Celtic Rose performs "Celtic Cross-Over Songs - From the Celtic
Lands to America.
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 "Doris Williams performs live as a solo artist, and with other talented musicians in the Bay Area. She is extremely well versed in many styles and genres of music, both modern and ancient, making her an ideal music instructor. Her lifelong committment to preserving our musical heritage inspires her joy of teaching.
Her repertoire of Celtic, Renaissance, and American Folk is an ideal medium, blessed as it is with a fluidity and transcendence that allows her listeners to rejoin the distant parts of our historic cultural tapestry. By accompanying herself on lute she is able to perform Renaissance and Celtic ballads, dance tunes, and instrumentals.
Sean Fullerton, Music Writer & Producer writes: "Doris's naturalness and ease
in sharing definitely helps others
to be themselves, to open up.
One of the most refreshing things
about her nature is the way she lives out loud, unashamed.
Whenever
I'm tempted to hide my talents under
a blanket, I think of how
she walks out
on stage without props and bares her
soul with a single line of melody.
. .
She's an inspiration..."
"Without question, Doris is one of the most gifted artists working today. Whether singing Elizabethan folk tunes or classical arias, playing jazz piano or writing singularly
original songs, this soulful young woman is an unstoppable force of creation."
Jeffrey Rensch writes: "Doris's voice is limber and pure and her musicianship is sound.
Performing Renaissance or Celtic music she seems to make a direct expressive connection from those earlier times to right now. You owe it to yourself to hear her!"
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Ms. Doris Williams received degrees from Oakland University of Rochester, MI, and
Stanford University of Stanford, CA, in vocal music of the Renaissance and Baroque
periods. She has performed with numerous chamber choirs, including the California
Bach Society, Philharmonia Baroque Chorus, and the San Francisco Choral Artists.
She
has studied with Gregory Wait and Maureen Chowning in Palo Alto, and also had master
classes with some of the top early music performers in the world, including Andrea
von Ramm, Nigel Rogers and Julianne Baird. She has also directed chamber vocal
groups in early music, jazz, folk, and spiritual music.
Doris performs on an
8-course lute, directing her Celtic Band Celtic Rose. They have performed at
Ardenwood Scottish Renaissance Festival, Tartan Day, and numerous other festivals
and venues in the Bay Area. In addition, Ms. Williams also writes original
material for spiritual use in the church, and recital hall. Her recent CD
“Renaissance and Beyond” has had rave reviews.
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For Lessons, Bookings for
parties, Funraisers,
Festivals and Special Events,
& for more information on her CD "Celtic & Beyond", Contact Doris: 650-213-6463 & by e-mail: doris.sings@mindspring.com. |
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