#4770, Voices Together
On this edition of New Sounds, experience the versatility of the human voice through an all vocal music program.
Vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth performs two movements of Caroline Shaw’s Partita for 8 Voices. In Partita, Shaw explores the possibilities of the human voice, incorporating whispers, grunts, and sighs among wordless melodies and chords. Later in the program, Roomful of Teeth returns with William Brittelle’s Psychedelics: I. Deep Blue (You Beat Me) from their album Rough Magic. Then you’ll hear them in Alev Lenz’s "The Chair", which is an ode to feminist author Audre Lorde.
Throughout the program listen to excerpts of English composer Emily Peasgood’s Beacons. Peasgood layers her own voice to create a distinct choral sound. If you can’t quite make out the words, don’t feel too bad. The piece is sung in a made-up language that Peasgood calls “Beacon-ish.”
You’ll also hear a Bulgarian Women’s Choir singing Erghen Diado, which roughly translates to “unmarried red-faced old man,” from the 1975 album Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices). Plus, take a listen to Meredith Monk’s Dolmen Music. Finally, two songs from Modern Medieval’s album The Living Word. This debut album pairs chants by Hildegard von Bingen with new works by modern composers, including Daniel Thomas Davis and Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek. - Laura Boyman
Program #4770, Voices Together
ARTIST: Roomful of Teeth
WORK: Caroline Shaw: Partita for 8 Voices Part 4: Passacaglia
RECORDING: Partita for 8 Voices
SOURCE: New Amsterdam Records
INFO: roomfulofteeth.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Emily Peasgood
WORK: Excerpts from Beacons
INFO: emilypeasgood.com/beacons
ARTIST: Roomful of Teeth
WORK: Caroline Shaw: Partita for 8 Voices Part 2: Sarabande
RECORDING: Partita for 8 Voices
SOURCE: New Amsterdam Records
INFO: roomfulofteeth.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices Female Vocal Choir
WORK: Erghen Diado
RECORDING: Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares
SOURCE: Disques Cellier
INFO: discogs.com
ARTIST: Modern Medieval
WORK: Daniel Thomas Davis: Three Winged Wisdom
RECORDING: The Living Word
SOURCE: Ulysses Arts
INFO: ulyssesarts.com
ARTIST: Roomful of Teeth
WORK: William Brittelle: Psychedelics: I. Deep Blue (You Beat Me)
RECORDING: Rough Magic
SOURCE: New Amsterdam Records
INFO: roomfulofteeth.bandcamp.com/album/rough-magic
ARTIST: Meredith Monk
WORK: Dolmen Music
RECORDING: Dolmen Music
SOURCE: ECM Records
INFO: discogs.com
ARTIST: Modern Medieval
WORK: Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek: Meditation
RECORDING: The Living Word
SOURCE: Ulysses Arts
INFO: ulyssesarts.com
ARTIST: Alev Lenz with Roomful of Teeth
WORK: Alev Lenz: The Chair
RECORDING: The Chair
SOURCE: SA Recordings
INFO: alevlenz.bandcamp.com/track/the-chair
