tag:sopasol.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=2Latest News2019-11-05T09:58:54-05:00Sopa Solfalsetag:sopasol.com,2005:Post/59501332019-11-05T09:58:54-05:002023-10-16T10:47:21-04:00Wild Bird concert at Fiddle Creek Dairy Farm<p>It has been quite a while since our last communication! <span style="color:#f39c12;"><span class="font_regular"><em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em></span><span class="font_large"> </span></span>is always open to new performance opportunities. We are coming into prime house concert season. Would anyone like to host an intimate event with your friends?</p>
<p>Frances's family continues to enhance <a contents="Fiddle Creek Dairy Farm" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fiddlecreekdairy.com" target="_blank"><em><strong>Fiddle Creek Dairy Farm</strong></em></a>, and Daryl has settled into new work doing custom database development with Jason Mundok—one of the founding members of <span style="color:#f39c12;"><em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em></span>. We each still keep active musically, both solo and with others. We have always known that <span style="color:#f39c12;"><em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em> </span>would be an ever-changing collective, collaborating as we can with many fabulous musicians (like Nathan Bontrager and Ken Nafziger on our <a contents="Free Range Hymns" data-link-label="Free Range Hymns" data-link-type="page" href="/free-range-hymns"><em><strong>Free Range Hymns</strong></em></a> project), and that is part of what keeps <span style="color:#f39c12;"><em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em></span> alive!</p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>This Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019:</strong></span> Frances has joined with Eli Weaver and Karen Smith to form the band<em><strong> Wild Bird</strong></em>. You are invited to a Musical Sunset and Indoor Barn Concert at <em><strong><a contents="Fiddle Creek Dairy Farm" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fiddlecreekdairy.com" target="_blank">Fiddle Creek Dairy Farm</a>.</strong></em></p>
<ul> <li>4:30 Join us for a musical sunset and bonfire. (drums and percussion instruments will be provided) </li> <li>6pm Concert indoors in a cozy heated barn (Wild Bird - Frances Miller, Eli Weaver, Karen Smith) </li> <li>$5-10 Suggested Donation </li> <li>Bring your own chair'blanket, food/drink. Wear appropriate shoes and layers for outdoors. </li> <li>Costumes encouraged. (No Scary Ones) </li> <li>Family Friendly. </li> <li>Drumming... Dancing... </li> <li>Come at 4pm to shop at our new Fiddle Creek Dairy Farm stand!</li>
</ul>
<p>May you be well, friends.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/151755/e924e6a2a28fdea4f1fb8543ad2504f16ed4fff6/original/wildbirdfallflyer2019.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Sopa Soltag:sopasol.com,2005:Post/48392272017-09-06T14:07:20-04:002020-03-18T13:23:24-04:00"Free Range Hymns" CD is now available online<p>Thanks to everyone who came to our <a contents="Free Range Hymns" data-link-label="Free Range Hymns" data-link-type="page" href="/free-range-hymns" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color:#c0392b;">Free</span> <span style="color:#e67e22;">Range</span> <span style="color:#8e44ad;">Hymns</span></strong></a> CD release show! It was so much fun to sing with you and share the music on this CD, in a live setting.</p>
<p>Physical CDs and high-resolution, digital MP3s are now available to preview and purchase at <a contents="sopasol.com/music" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" target="_blank">sopasol.com/music</a>. Please help us spread the word!</p>
<p>If you already purchased a physical CD and want to download the digital files without paying again, please let us know (<a contents="contact@sopasol.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:contact@sopasol.com" target="_blank">contact@sopasol.com</a>). We will make sure you get them (still working on an easy way to do this).</p>
<p>In a few weeks, <a contents="Free Range Hymns" data-link-label="Free Range Hymns" data-link-type="page" href="/free-range-hymns" target="_blank"><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Free</strong></span><span style="color:#e67e22;"><strong><span style="color:#e67e22;"><strong> </strong></span>Range</strong></span><span style="color:#e67e22;"><strong> </strong></span><span style="color:#8e44ad;"><strong>Hymns</strong></span></a> should be available on your favorite online music platforms (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc.).</p>
<p>We are so pleased with how this CD turned out, and it is delightful to hear what you think of it, too. We are eager for your feedback; we might even display a quote on our website or promotional materials (with your permission). You can use the easy feedback form below the CD page, <a contents="here" data-link-label="Free Range Hymns" data-link-type="page" href="/free-range-hymns" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Daryl for Frances & Nathan</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="Free Range Hymns" data-link-type="page" href="/free-range-hymns" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/151755/6f7d9a03e2db84c6e26431eb4d0a49293538fcaf/medium/coverimage.jpg?1502279323" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>Sopa Soltag:sopasol.com,2005:Post/48201472017-08-20T22:53:27-04:002022-02-22T12:31:05-05:00"Free Range Hymns" CD Release!<p><span class="font_regular">We are delighted to announce that this long-anticipated CD <strong>here</strong>! </span></p>
<p><strong>Thanks to all of you</strong> who already preordered and contributed to the costs of this project! Thanks also for your patience! You should have already received your CDs. After over 2 years of preparations and work </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><strong><em>Free Range Hymns</em></strong> – CD release show! </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large">Thursday, August 24, at 6:30 p.m. <br>Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster </span><br>328 W. Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/151755/66215d86a7be82d1089a83fa86076996e8890da7/original/free-range-hymns-poster.png?1503278894" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>We hope you can join us for the CD release show. There will be some hymn singing, as well as performances of music from the album. All are welcome to enjoy the evening. No entry fee—donations appreciated. Of course, CDs will be available.</p>
<p>This recording project is a collaboration among Daryl Snider & Frances Crowhill Miller (of <span style="color:#f39c12;"><em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em></span>) and Nathan Bontrager, an extraordinarily talented and innovative musician. Nathan performs and teaches in Germany most of the year and over recent years has been indulging in Appalachian music. All 3 of us grew up in the greater Mennonite church community, and while we've each traveled beyond those walls the songs and the practice of singing together are part of the allure that keeps us coming back. </p>
<p>This CD includes 10 hymns, chosen with care and done with our peculiar blend of arrangement and improvisation, with both traditional and experimental sounds. Last August, after over a year of preparation, we spent 3 intensive days at Blue Angel Studios with recording engineer <strong>Rusty Richards</strong>. These tracks have been carefully mixed and mastered, and we have collaborated with <strong>Amanda Gross</strong> (album art) and <strong>Michael Eby-Good</strong> (design). </p>
<p>After a marathon and a final sprint, we are thrilled with the results and excited to share these recordings with you! You can get CDs at the release event, or order and/or download from our website: <a contents="sopasol.com/music" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" target="_blank">sopasol.com/music</a>. </p>
<p><span class="font_large">New addition</span> <br>You may have noticed that <span style="color:#f39c12;"><em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em></span> had fewer performances since the end of last year. In December, Frances,Tim and Eli welcomed Niko into the family! Frances has been busy mothering two young boys. <span style="color:#f39c12;"><em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em></span> enjoyed playing with <strong>Jeff Raught</strong> at the Hans Herr House on July 22 (no, we were not rained out!), and we hope to gradually play more. <a contents="Watch our website Events page for upcoming performances" data-link-label="Events" data-link-type="page" href="/events" target="_blank">Watch our website Events page for upcoming performances</a>. </p>
<p>Health and happiness, <br><span style="color:#f39c12;"><em><strong><span class="font_large">Sopa Sol</span></strong></em></span></p>Sopa Soltag:sopasol.com,2005:Post/38038502015-08-04T22:24:01-04:002017-01-12T09:19:09-05:00Sopa Sol CD is now available!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/151755/bb9ae0fd80f865ef6829b44fa02dbfa1ba034218/small/new-sopa-sol-logo-design-200ppi.png?1416890555" class="size_s justify_none border_none" alt="" /><div><span class="font_large">First CD from <em><strong>Sopa Sol</strong></em> is now available!</span></div><span class="font_regular">Get yours at any performance or purchase on our website. <a contents="sopasol.com/music" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" target="_blank">sopasol.com/music</a></span><br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Wozo – Songs of Resilience" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" target="_blank"><em style="text-align: center; font-size: 17px;">Wozo – Songs of Resilience</em></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/151755/eb9fdd913eb3d98b13c33c7ff5b59492c121398e/medium/wozocoverimage.png?1438893105" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /><p class="caption">'Mothering God' album art by Mary Lou Weaver Houser</p></div></div><br>This 13 song album was recorded live at a concert in December, and then mixed and mastered. We are delighted with the results!<br><br><a contents="Mennonite World Conference" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://pa2015.mwc-cmm.org/watch-live/" target="_blank"><span class="font_large">Mennonite World Conference</span></a><br>Daryl and Frances were honored to be part of the international music ensemble leading singing at Mennonite World Conference, Harrisburg 2015. Meeting and making music with fantastic musicians from around the world was a joy! Future collaborations, maybe?<br><br><a contents="Upcoming events" data-link-label="Events" data-link-type="page" href="/events"><span class="font_large">Upcoming events</span></a><br>Sopa Sol will again be doing performances with Nathan Bontrager, back from Germany:<div style="text-align: center;">
<a contents="Sun, Aug. 16, 4pm" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://sopasol.com/event/1305031/171398699/fiddle-creek-forest-concert-with-nathan-bontrager" target="_blank">Sun, Aug. 16, 4pm</a> – Fiddle Creek Forest Concert<br><a contents="Wed, Aug. 19, 7pm" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://sopasol.com/event/1305041/172333479/sopa-sol-with-nathan-bontrager" target="_blank">Wed, Aug. 19, 7pm</a> – Akron Mennonite Church</div><br>In October, Nathan plans to return for a special hymn project – Stay tuned!Sopa Soltag:sopasol.com,2005:Post/33118572014-11-20T22:29:53-05:002017-01-12T09:19:09-05:00Recording for an upcoming CD!<strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/151755/1403d372722f192daca04b0f202c2fa1cd849e59/small/new-sopa-sol-logo-design.png?1416577616" class="size_s justify_none border_" /><br>Sopa Sol</em></strong> is recording a joint CD! We appreciate everyone's patience as we gather the resources needed (time, money, expertise, planning) to collect songs from <a contents="Wozo: Songs of Resilience" data-link-label="Wozo" data-link-type="page" href="/wozo">Wozo: Songs for Resilience</a> in a form that you can take home and listened to in the privacy of your own home, car or headphones. <br><br>You may have noticed that we currently have some live demo recordings available on our <a contents="Music" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music">Music</a> page from a previous performance. Now, however, we have enlisted our good friend Jason Mundok of <a contents="Woodstove House" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.woodstovehouse.com" target="_blank">Wood Stove House</a> to bring his sweet sounding equipment to our next show to create a multitrack recording that we can mix down afterward. This way, we'll get the best of both worlds: the energy and synergy of a live performance (a signature part of <strong><em>Sopa Sol</em></strong>) and the clean, editable goodness of multitrack recording.<br><br>Here's where you come in: <br><strong><em>The quality of your listening inspires the quality of our music.</em></strong> <br> <div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Come help <i>Sopa Sol</i> record their first joint CD – LIVE!</strong> <br>Join us at 7:00pm on First Friday, Dec. 5, 2014<br>at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster (328 W. Orange St)<br>Donations appreciated<br><br>The performance will be recorded, and anyone is welcome. </div><br>The resulting CD will be a compilation of songs used in our ongoing project, <a contents="Wozo: Songs of Resilience" data-link-label="Wozo" data-link-type="page" href="/wozo"><em>Wozo: Songs for Resilience</em></a>. What better way to record this anticipated CD than among friends? Sign up for our email list, and we'll notify you when CDs will be available. Update: CDs are now available!<br> Sopa Soltag:sopasol.com,2005:Post/32423752014-10-21T03:00:20-04:002014-11-20T21:45:40-05:00Wozo (Ready for the Rain)We are very excited about the <a contents="Wozo" data-link-label="Wozo" data-link-type="page" href="/wozo"><em>Wozo</em></a> ('Resilience') project we've been developing since mid-2013. With this program we explore the impact of trauma on our lives, healing and resilience, and restoration of a sense of real justice. Included is some of our learning from graduate studies as the <a contents="Center for Justice and Peacebuilding" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.emu.edu/cjp" target="_blank">Center for Justice and Peacebuilding</a> at Eastern Mennonite University, where <a contents="STAR" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.emu.edu/cjp/star" target="_blank">STAR</a> (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) was developed. Through our own stories and songs, <em>Wozo</em> is a new way to approach this material.<br><br><em>Wozo</em> has appeared under various names: originally named <em>UpRise</em>, then <em>Ready for the Rain</em>, and now <em>Wozo</em>. Each presentation has continued to take a new shape as we clarified what it is we hope to offer in this program. Each iteration has been a rich learning experience, since we invite audience members to stick around for a talkback session afterward. From that wonderful feedback, we continually adapt and improve the program.<br><br>So far, we have offered <em>Wozo</em> at chaplaincy training programs, retirement communities, hospice programs, educational and religious institutions, and memorial services. Wozo is a 90 minute performance in its full form, though it can be adapted for your purpose and your audience. Common themes are grief and loss, resilience and restorative justice.Sopa Sol