Cançonièr is currently working on our new album, our (infamous?) program of music from the time of the historical Dracula. It's going very well, and should be released in June!

My new CD of medieval English music, Honey from the Thorn, is now available. It is already receiving much acclaim and praise, for which I am very grateful, and features the wonderful talents of guest artists Annette Bauer, Phoebe Jevtovic, Shira Kammen, and Susan Rode Morris. Listen to sound clips and buy the CD here:

cdbaby.com/cd/rayborn7

Cançonièr announces that our new website is now up and running! Stop by and have a look around, listen to music clips, watch videos, and listen to (and purchase!) the CD via CD Baby:

www.canconier.com

Cançonièr, co-created by Tim and Annette Bauer (and also featuring the amazing talents of vocalist Phoebe Jevtovic and bowed-string favorite Shira Kammen), is pleased to announce that it is the new medieval Ensemble-in-Residence at Music Sources in Berkeley.

www.musicsources.org

Preparations are underway for two exciting and dynamic programs in the Music Sources concert series for 2009-10, and some other surprises, including new evening classes. Look for the Music Sources flyer in early summer for more details. Plans are also underway for the next recording, which will include Shira and Phoebe. And Brumas…

I am honored to be on the faculty of the SFEMS Medieval and Renaissance Workshop this year, from June 28 to July 4. The theme this year is "Stories and Legends," and will feature the phenomenal talent of story-teller and harpist Patrick Ball. He, along with Shira Kammen and me, will present our acclaimed program of Tristan and Iseult, and teach classes in aspects of storytelling and musical accompaniment.

Other faculty members include Annette Bauer, Frances Blaker, Drew Minter, Karen Clark, Julie Jeffrey, Larry Rosenwald, Mary Springfels, Dan Stillman, and workshop director, Tom Zajac. If you are interested in attending this amazing week-long event, visit the website below for more details:

www.sfems.org/medren09

I will be out and about traveling quite a bit over the next several months, starting with a short tour in mid-May of Nevada and eastern California with Patrick and Shira, bringing Tristan and Iseult to new audiences.

After that, I will be embarking on a slightly crazy, drive-across-America tour with some friends, starting in the Bay Area in late May and ending up in Boston about three weeks later! This will have a Middle Eastern theme, though I will be teaching some medieval master classes, as well.

Late June brings the MedRen workshop, and then I will be off to Italy from mid-July to early August. I will be in residence in Calvi dell'Umbria (north of Rome), performing medieval music with Phoebe Jevtovic, and taking in the lovely rural Italian atmosphere (and hopefully some fine Tuscan wine!).

September sees the return of our dear Swedish friends Dråm to the Bay Area, and then I will hopefully be off to Ireland and Scotland (still working out details).

I am very grateful to do what I do, and very appreciative of your support! Thank you for taking the time to read thus, and I look forward to seeing you in concerts and other events over the next several months!