This is the trio’s first album, recorded in 1993. The recording arose from one of the group’s first concerts, sung at Nadine’s thesis weaving show entitled, “The Spirituality of the Rural Life Cycle”, at the Oregon School of Arts and Crafts. Carla Sciaky had compiled a wonderful recording called Spin the Weaver’s Song from which we included five of the same songs on “Straw into Gold” . The rest of the songs were chosen because they related to Nadine’s growing up on a farm in the Midwest and the weavings she created for her thesis installation.
The name of the group and this first album drew together how we saw our music taking shape: women singing about weaving and spirituality. We liked earthy images and wanted something clever, memorable, catchy. We became Straw Into Gold. It captures the notion of spinning fiber, of women’s myths (Rumpelstiltskin) and spiritual alchemy.
As the Singing Weaver, I strive to use sound, words, rhythm and texture to reach people. I love singing in ensembles because the power of voices joined together is energizing. I formed the group Straw Into Gold to perform a concert to accompany my weaving thesis show. Straw Into Gold has sung harmonies of the soul since 1993. The group’s repertoire ranges from traditional folk music about weaving to arrangements of contemporary folk songs, to choral-like spiritual music. Members of the group also write original songs with thoughtful lyrics and compelling arrangements.
