Moss is the co-founder (with Muziektheater Transparant) and artistic director of the Institute for Living Voice (ILV), a workshop center hosting Master Singers from around the world. The ILV presented its premiere session in Sept. 2001 in Ghent, Belgium, and presented its 2004 sessions in June in Amsterdam (as part of the Holland Festival) and in October as part of the Melbourne Festival.
In 2004, Moss re-joined Hans Peter Kuhn and Stefan Kurt to create the theater piece Sunset Scientists" for Theater Neumarkt (Zürich). He performed as soloist in "Credo" by Andrea Molino in Karlsruhe and and in Rome for the Conference of Nobel Peace Price Winners; he toured with the Ensemble Modern in their "Frank Zappa Project", and appeared in Olga Neuwirth's opera "Lost Highway", with performances at the 2003 Steierischer Herbst Festival in Graz and at Theater Basel. He was soloist in the premiere of "Divina.Com" by Daniele Lombardi, singing in front of Michelangelo¹s "David" in Firenze; and was part of the Melbourne Festival.
In 2003, Moss performed as soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle; and with the Uri Caine Ensemble at Lincoln Center. He appeared as soloist in the premiere of Olga Neuwirth's opera, "Lost Highway" as part of Steierischer Herbst Festival. In early 2003, Moss composed the music for, and performed in, "For Life", a dance-theater production of the Darmstadt Theater.
Moss made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2003 with the American Composers Orchestra, under Steven Sloane.
Moss returned to the Salzburg Festival in summer 2001 as "Prince Orlovsky" in the new Hans Neuenfels production of "Die Fledermaus". In 1999, Moss was a featured soloist in Luciano Berios' "Cronaca del Luogo" at its premiere in Salzburg.
In 2002, his one-man theater piece "Einstein for Aliens" premiered in Antwerp, with Berlin, Bruges, Amsterdam, Gent, Frankfurt, NY to follow. Also "OWL", a new work Moss composed for the Asko Ensemble based on Allen Ginsberg's "Howl", was performed throughout Holland. He also composed "Chortet" for the Arditti String Quartet.
Moss has sung at the Edinburgh Festival, Spoleto Festival, USA, and the Meistersinger Festival in Nürnberg in Heiner Goebbels' orchestra work "Surrogate Cities" , and is a vocal soloist in Goebbels' "Prometheus". Since 1995 he has performed as guest with the Ensemble Modern, most recently in their "Frank Zappa Project" at the Paris Festival and Hamburg Music Fest in 2002.
Moss also presented the "Strange Stories Project" as part of the Bern Biennale; served on the jury for the Darmstadt "New Theater" prize; sings in Andrea Molino's "Death Penalty Project"; and appears as featured soloist in Uri Caine's "Goldberg Variations Project". He curated a vocal improvisation project for the Adelaide Festival 2000.
In 2005/6 he will be featured in two new projects: first, the premiere of Sam Auinger's multi-media opera, "The Man Made of Rain" at the Bruckner House, Linz; and second, the premiere of "Pierrot LunaiRE: REmix 05/06", a collaboration with the Alter Ego ensemble.
Born:
1949, New York City
Education:
BA degree in Russian History (Trinity College, 1970)
Musical Training:
1963-68: studied percussion at Hartt College of Music and Hartford Symphony with Joe Porcaro, Al Lepak, Richard Lepore.
1969-70: percussion student of Tanjore Ranganathan, Wesleyan University 1971-73: composition student of Bill Dixon, Bennington College.
1971-73: percussionist for the Bill Dixon Ensemble
Vocal Training:
Self-taught
Performance History:
Since 1973, over 1000 solo percussion/voice concerts; 3000 concerts with groups, collaborators, theaters and orchestras around the world.
Current Position:
Artistic Director, Institute for Living Voice, Antwerp; opera singer, improvising musician, performer, composer, percussionist, vocalist, project organizer.
Winter Song
David Moss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
if I could fall forever
ya see, fallin's no straight line and, oh
if it wasn't, it might be better
ooh-ooh, ooh-oooooh well I looked a glad and golden star
and I swear that it was pinin'
I said come on with me let's take a walk
ooh-ooh, ooh-oooooh take it easy on me aw, there's a cold wind howlin'
take me where you please
I am autumn's fallin' leaves comin' down
layin' down
take it easy on me (oooh)
ooh-ooh, ooh-oooooh take it easy on me many a man walked this lonely mile
and mine is paved in moonlight
shadows cover up the cracks and scars
but I can see them if I look right
ooh-ooh, ooh-oooooh
The lyrics of David Moss's Winter Song evoke a sense of vulnerability and falling, both physically and emotionally. The singer wonders if falling could be eternal, and contemplates how falling is not a straightforward path. Perhaps if it were, it would be easier to understand, but as it is, the unpredictability of falling brings a sense of unease. The singer then describes a golden star, seemingly out of place as it appears to be pining, and suggests taking a walk together even if it is not feeling particularly bright. The line "take it easy on me" serves as a refrain throughout the song, conveying a plea for understanding and gentleness as the singer navigates their inner struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder if I start to fall
I'm contemplating the consequences of allowing myself to fall into something.
if I could fall forever
I'm wondering if I would continue falling for an indefinite period if I ever allowed myself to start falling.
ya see, fallin's no straight line and, oh
Falling is not a direct process; it's complicated with twists and turns.
if it wasn't, it might be better
Falling in a more direct way may lead to better outcomes.
well I looked a glad and golden star
I saw a bright and promising star in the sky.
and I swear that it was pinin'
The bright star, despite its beauty, seemed like it was longing for or missing something.
I said come on with me let's take a walk
I invited the star to go for a stroll with me.
if you don't feel like shinin'
I'm offering to keep the star company, even if it doesn't feel like shining brightly right now.
take it easy on me aw, there's a cold wind howlin'
I'm requesting some patience and kindness since I'm feeling vulnerable with a cold wind blowing.
take me where you please
I'm giving the star permission to guide our walk wherever it wants to go.
I am autumn's fallin' leaves comin' down
I feel like I'm slowly losing myself, like the leaves of a tree falling off in autumn.
layin' down
I'm just laying low and letting life happen at the moment.
many a man walked this lonely mile
I am acutely aware that people before me have gone through this difficult journey alone.
and mine is paved in moonlight
My path is illuminated by the moon, shining through the darkness.
shadows cover up the cracks and scars
There are marks and imperfections hidden by the shadows, which makes them easy to disregard.
but I can see them if I look right
Yet, I am fully aware of these imperfections, despite their concealment, when I take a closer look.
take it easy on me
I am asking for some patience and kindness as I navigate through this challenging journey.
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ljjgbkdp1607
favourite winter song✨✨✨
@guesswhoscomingtoshabbas5891
Fell in love with this Winter Song when I first heard it at the Summer Hoot!