Written in the Stars: Existential Poetry, Zen & American Song November 19, 2011

Music at the Mission presents Written in the Stars: Existentialist Poetry, Zen Buddhism and the American Song, featuring the music of John Jacob Niles. This inspiring and colorful, multi-media performance will explore the music and life of famous Kentucky composer and balladeer, John Jacob Niles, whose work greatly influenced the Folk Revival of the 1950s and 60s. The concert will weave together live performance with video highlighting each era of the composer's life from his early popular songs to the rarely performed Niles/Merton Songs, op. 171 & 172. In the summer of 1967, John Jacob Niles met the Trappist monk Thomas Merton. Niles had spent his career collecting, cataloging and arranging American folk music, especially that of his native Kentucky. His work became a huge influence on popular folk musicians of the 50s and 60s, including Joan Baez and Peter Paul & Mary. Merton was a well-traveled poet, social activist and scholar in comparative religion, whose great admiration for eastern religion had helped open dialog between East and West. The two struck up an instant friendship founded in their shared interest in Zen Buddhism and existentialism. Niles was devastated by the untimely death of Merton the following year. He spent the next four years setting Merton's poetry to music and the result was the hauntingly beautiful collection of Niles/Merton Songs, op 171 and 172. Come and join Kentucky mezzo soprano Sherri Phelps and pianist Rachel Taylor in exploring the meeting of these two great minds. There will be a pre-concert lecture at 7:15 given by Music at the Mission's co-Artistic Director Bill Everett, and a post concert Meet-the-Artists reception.

Official Website: http://www.musicatmsj.org