Album Notes

The album Singing for Peace has been produced to promote a culture of peace and to raise funds for the Halifax Peace Coalition and the Voice of Women for Peace - Nova Scotia.

Clearing by Noon began in 1984 when four friends discovered that singing together was a great way to get through difficult times. They wrote songs about peace and women's issues and performed at folk festivals and conferences and benefits. They produced a half-hour television show which won a national award. Eventually other projects and responsibilities intervened and the group disbanded.

Rose Vaughan went on to found the acclaimed Rose Vaughan Trio, with whom she recorded four albums. Sandy Greenberg formed the award-winning children's entertainment group Razzmatazz for Kids. Catriona Talbot began a career in university administration. Marsha Lake now works for peace all over the world with such agencies as the International Red Cross and the United Nations.

In 2002, in response to the impending invasion of Iraq, three of the original four members (Sandy Greenberg, Catriona Talbot and Rose Vaughan) started singing together again at peace rallies, marches and vigils. At a vigil in May 2005 to mark Mothers' Day for Peace, someone asked if they'd recorded any of their songs. The group decided to produce a CD to use as a fundraiser and consciousness raiser for local peace groups, and to release it in time for Mother's Day 2006.

Various individuals and organizations contributed funds towards the production of the album, and the musicians contributed their time to the project.

The instrumental accompanists are among the best in the business: Gordon Stobbe on mandolin and fiddle, Tom Roach on drums, Dave Carmichael on Bass and Cathy Porter on piano. Long-time musical friend Cheryl Gaudet sings a song which she co-wrote with Rose Vaughan.

The album is an eclectic collection of peace songs ranging from traditional songs like Johnny I Hardly Knew You through standards from the sixties like Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream to originals from each of the members of the group and little-known gems from Woody Guthrie and Bob Blue.