Cana
Acapella music to touch the spirit
Cana is an acapella trio of singers Pam Moxham, Linda Currin and Ali Bullivent. Their work comprises mainly original pieces consisting of close harmony and multi textured music. Cana’s influences include Celtic, classical and gospel traditions, which they blend together to create a unique and varied sound. They also enjoy performing their own arrangements of world music and traditional songs and have recently incorporated African djembe and accordion into their performances. Cana are inspired by many sources including 20th century poetry, women artists, descriptive prose and images of women from the bible. They often include the spoken word in their performances.
Since they came together in March 2002, the group have been meeting regularly to create and rehearse new and exciting music. Cana are fast becoming a sought after musical treat and have performed at Wakefield Cathedral, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Dewsbury Minster, Nostell Priory, local churches and Greenbelt Festival. They have sung at a variety of events including art exhibitions, Edwardian Days, gatherings, and as part of large-scale spiritual adventures. They are often asked to sing at weddings, Christenings and other special occasions.
Over the last three years Cana have worked closely with multi arts group ‘The Flying Ducks’ to write and perform music. The performance ‘Winter’s Call’ for example, incorporated a backdrop of artwork created by local schools and through a programme of Mandala workshops with local people. Songs were written from the stories and experiences told to the ‘Flying Ducks’ by Sandal and Agbrigg allotment users. Cana also worked with the ‘Flying Ducks’ to create a performance piece shown at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the summer of 2003 as part of the Barbara Hepworth centenary celebrations. A site specific performance ‘Inside Outside’, created using the mediums of dance, vocals and drums, played to several hundred people. In 2004 Cana were inspired to create new music after working creatively with local African asylum seekers, which they performed at various festivals and events in West Yorkshire and beyond. This year they were an integral part of ‘Heaven and Earth’, a new piece of music commissioned by St Helen’s Church in Wakefield to celebrate it’s past present and future. This original piece was composed by Ali Bullivent with Arts Council funding and combined voice with djembe and handballs, and African and contemporary dance.
Cana’s music is made to resonate with the spiritual self. The group are often called upon to lead worship and meditative gatherings.
Cana are available for performances at small and medium scale venues. They can also run inclusive workshops in harmony singing and ‘finding your voice’.
