Cana
Acapella music to touch the spirit
Cana was an acapella trio of singers Pam Moxham, Linda Currin and Ali Bullivent. Their work comprised mainly original pieces consisting of close harmony and multi textured music. Cana’s influences include Celtic, classical and gospel traditions, which they blended together to create a unique and varied sound. They also enjoyed performing their own arrangements of world music and traditional songs and have recently incorporated African djembe and accordion into their performances. Cana were inspired by many sources including 20th century poetry, women artists, descriptive prose and images of women from the bible. They often included the spoken word in their performances.
Cana were formed in March 2002. Cana have performed at Wakefield Cathedral, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Dewsbury Minster, Nostell Priory, local churches and Greenbelt Festival. They sang at a variety of events including art exhibitions, Edwardian Days, gatherings, and as part of large-scale spiritual adventures. They were often asked to sing at weddings, Christenings and other special occasions.
In their last years Cana 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 was made to resonate with the spiritual self. The group were often called upon to lead worship and meditative gatherings.
