April 19, 2013 Sine & Syrinx @ First Presbyterian, Brooklyn

ExhAust New Music and Music at First present

Sine & Syrinx

featuring Australian soprano Jane Sheldon

‘Sheldon was superb, with a voice of penetrating beauty, precision and variegated colours…’ – Sydney Morning Herald, November 2009

with Sam Nester (conductor), Sean Statser (percussion), Steven Sehman (percussion), Alix Raspe (harp), Isabelle O’Connell (piano), Richard Vaudrey (cello)

When? 7:30pm. April 19, 2013.

Where? First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn
124 Henry St, Brooklyn Heights
2/3 to Clark St; A/C to High St; R/4/5 to Court St/Borough Hall

Program

Vibraphone Theory by Amanda Cole (2007)
Solo vibraphone with pre-recorded sine tones.*

Ravensongs by Rosalind Page (2001, rev. 2005) 
Text by Hrafn Andrés Hardason. Soprano, piano, harp, celeste, cello, + optional Nord synth.*

Hush by Richard Vaudrey and Steven Sehman
i. her
ii. thoughts
iii. hush
A music/film installation. Starring: Simon Thomas-Train and Jenna Reigel. Directed and Produced: Richard Vaudrey. Video Editing and Post Production: Richard Vaudrey. Performed live by: Steven Sehman, percussion/electronics & Richard Vaudrey, cello, vocals.§

Seasonal Flocking by Aristea Mellos (2012) 
Text by Judith Wright. Soprano and percussion.*

The title of Page’s Ravensongs nods to the namesake of her lyricist, Icelandic poet Hrafn Andrés
Hardason, and his poems take birds as their subject. Mellos’ Seasonal Flocking sets a poem by
Judith Wright which considers the behaviour of local birds at the end of autumn. It may be
less clear why Cole’s microtonal Vibraphone Theories are important
inclusions. Its presence here is inspired by the syrinx, the vocal
organ of songbirds. A fascinating piece of anatomy, the syrinx is a source of great envy for a
singer: the syrinx is a dual voicebox, in contrast to the mammalian larynx, and it endows
some songbirds with astonishing vocal agility. In Cole’s note to Vibraphone Theories, she says it is
her aim that “the sine tone and vibraphone parts should blend together to sound like one
instrument.” Thus blending to make a single sonic impression, like sounds from the syrinx.

Notes: Program is subject to change. * denotes Sean Statser is percussionist in this piece. § denotes Steven Sehman is performing the percussion part in this piece.