ANN DYER
ENSEMBLE
WORK SAMPLES
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WORK SAMPLE REEL.
Includes video of Vak Artists, Vak Choir rehearsals, and an informal session in which the Vak Ensemble participated in some initial explorations of ideas for use in the piece. segment 1: Ann Dyer Ensemble with John Shifflett, Jason Lewis, Jeff Buenz and Rob Burger in performance at the Chivas Jazz Festival in Sao Paolo, Brazil 2001 segment 2: Vak Ensemble experimenting with combining free improvisation and the Vedic chant Vak Suktam. segment 3: Co-composer Tim Volpicella performing in duo with pianist Vijay Iyer. Performed on Persian-tuned guitar and piano as part of Hafez Modirzadeh's Post-Chromodal Ensemble's performance at San Jose State Univeristy 2012 segment 4: Vak Choir Performance Workshop members learning bhramhari (the bee) breath, a medieval hatha yoga meditation technique. February 2013 segment 5: Ann Dyer and Hafez Modirzadeh engaging experiementing with creating sonic "beats" or "shimmers" through the performing simultaneous, close pitches. February 2013 segment 6: Vak Choir Performance Workshop members learning Raga Yaman and devotional song to Saraswati/Vak. February 2012. segment 7: Vak Choir Performance Workshop learning Vedic Invocation to Saraswati/Vak. February 2013 segment 8: Erika Shuch's "Chorus of Stones", Daejeon Metropolitan Dance Theater, South Korea 2011, segment 9: Hafez Modirzadeh performing on saxophone and shennai, explaining his theory of Convergence Liberation, a principle that informs the Vak Project. YBCA 2012 |
The composition Vak: Song of Becoming is currently in process. Musical considerations being explored include the experiential effect of tunings (specifically Indian, Persian and Arabic); the use of raga in contemporary, transcultural composition; directionality of sound (e.g., circularity, expansion, contraction), vocal resonance; and composition within improvisation. This Work Page attempts to provide a general impression of the direction, nature and integrity of this piece through: • a Video Work Reel • Audio Samples of Artists' Previous Recordings. • MIDI sketches of compositional themes being developed. AUDIO WORK SAMPLES
VAK: SONG OF BECOMING
Composed by Ann Dyer and Tim Volpicella Personnel Ann Dyer, lead vocals Hafez Modirzadeh, saxophones, shennai and ney Tim Volpicella, guitars (with various tunings) John Shifflett, acoustic bass Jason Lewis, drums The Vak Vocal Ensemble, seven voices The Vak Choir, 108 voices MIDI SKETCHES FOR VAK: SONG OF BECOMING |
