Flash Choir meets William Stafford

The Flash Choir will perform new work at their upcoming show, on October 11th, at Missisippi Studios, in a special Wordstock collaboration, honoring Oregon’s first poet laureate, William Stafford. “Strangers Together” is a setting of 10 poems by Stafford’s book, Passwords. The songs are composed by Sarah Dougher, best known for her work as a solo folk-rock artist and music label owner, and are performed by the Flash Choir.

The Flash Choir was founded in July 2007 in the service of the PICA’s TBA Festival, and it’s on-going manifestation is led by Sarah Dougher and Pat Janowski. The choir is free, open to all, and specializes in collaborative pieces and singing for public events. The choir has shared the stage with PInk Martini, the Portland Cello Project, and more. They have performed in chapels, in public squares, at rock festivals, concert halls, and dive bars.

This project engages the work of Stafford, exploring in particular themes of human connection to animals and the divine, as well as human connection with other humans. Most experience poetry sitting, silently, reading. The choral rendition of these words in a public space will create an opportunity for communal listening, and most certainly a new way of hearing and understanding the work of Oregon’s first Poet Laureate.