The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #64049   Message #1048440
Posted By: CapriUni
05-Nov-03 - 10:46 AM
Thread Name: Chants vs. Song: why don't Pagans *sing*
Subject: RE: Chants vs. Song: why don't Pagans *sing*
Blackcatter:

I actually know the chant:

We are a circle within a circle
With no beginning and never ending


It's one of the favorite chants of this unmusical community I'm bemoaning...

I'm not sure what melody you sing it to, but close as I can figure, picking it out on a midi keyboard, many of the Neo-Pagans around here sing "We are a circle within a circle" modulating between D# and D, "With no beginning" modulating between G# and G, and then sliding back to the D's for "and never ending" -- with no harmony or modulation, or any other verses. This was once kept up for over half an hour... I zoned out after that, and had a definite urge to break into a rousing chorus of "Oklahoma!" :-)

Now, part of the problem may be that many of these public rituals have all been organized by the same woman, who has the the philosophy that all emerging covens (and other groups, such as druid groves) must be taken under her wing and guided... There is currently a definite political split going on over this, btw. But nonetheless, I think many folks around here learned the chants from her before this break began.

And it may be that she's tone deaf. ;-)   

Ah, the quirks of culture!

Many of the other chants you give here can be found at the Pagan Chants of the Month page that I linked to, above (click on the archive), including "We are a Circle" and "Weaving the web" (Which is titled, there, as "Powerful Song". It has slightly different lyrics than the version you posted, possibly due to mondegreens). If you have RealAudio, you can listen to sound clips of the chants being sung, mostly by the webmaster of the site, Ivo Domínguez Jr..

Shameless Plug: And, speaking of Pagan carols, there is the Yule carol I posted to Mudcat last year, here: Winter Solstice Carol from CapriUni.