CONCERT - doorjam

"A Pilgrim's Psalm" , a contemporary oratorio for Holy Week, is an
exciting journey of words, music, images and imagination. The piece is based on three streams: first and foremost the words of Scripture in both the Old and New Testament, a series of oil paintings by Franklin Lakes artist Lucy Janjigian entitled " Journey to Resurrection" and original music and lyrics by doorjam, the House Band at the Franklin Reformed Church.
       The genesis of the project was at a writing event in 2001 when
Jill Fenske of the Franklin Reformed Church was approached by Lucy Janjigian who was familiar with the work of doorjam. Lucy wondered if the band ever used print/painted images as inspiration for their original music. When the rest of the band was brought on board they were intrigued by the challenge of such a collaboration. With computer images of the 33 acrylic on canvas works by Janjigian, that depict the events of the last week of the life of Jesus, the band went to work on the project.
       "We began the work in 2002. The collaborative writing process
with six musicians took us a while to get things in hand. Bits and pieces of the oratorio began to find their way into other local performances." The work debuted in full in April of 2005. " We have tried to speak out of the voices of the story itself. The last song, which many think should be the triumphant song of praise, is actually a song of quiet awe and tentative hope. The original disciples didn't get that "Jesus Christ is Risen Today" feeling until later in their understanding. We really have tried to put ourselves and our audience right there in time and place."
       doorjam is Vicky Chalk, Jill Fenske, Jainie Gambaro, Linda and
Joe Ribaudo and Martin Williams. They have been making music together for 15 years.