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Old meets new in this podcast, as we compare Boston Camerata's recent album of medieval Christmas songs with newly-recorded vocal works by Reiko Füting (using texts by the 13th century nun Mechthild von Magdeburg) and David Lang (a new version of The Little Match Girl Passion). The connections between the sound worlds, sensibilities and exploratory character of these pieces—among the earliest and most recent examples of Western art music—are unmistakable.
We also preview David Robertson's immanent appearance with Seattle Symphony, and bid farewell to David Del Tredici and his Alice in Wonderland works. We revisit an epic piece by Giya Kancheli that attracted little attention upon its premiere 50 years ago in Tbilisi, but which helped to usher in the spiritual minimalist movement that soon dominated the late Soviet musical milieu. And new improvised and fixed-media works by Tim Daisy, Mark Feldman, Angelika Niescier, Leonor Falcón, Vasco Trilla and Beatriz Ferreyra round out the show.
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Flotation Device 2023-11-26: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Merry Medieval Christmas [0:00]
1. [1:50] Hodie Christus natus est. From Hodie Christus natus est (Harmonia Mundi, 2021) with Boston Camerata: Anne Azéma (voice, hurdy-gurdy, bells, direction), Camila Parias (voice), Deborah Rentz-Moore (voice), Christa Patton (harp, winds), Shira Kammen (vielle, rebec, harp), Brad Michel (recording engineer). NOTE: Gregorian chant
2. [2:52] Adest Sponsus. From Hodie Christus natus est (credits as above). NOTE: From the "Sponsus" miracle play, Aquitaine, 12th century
3. [5:28] David Lang: The come, daughter. From The Little Match Girl Passion (Cantaloupe, 2023) with Molly Netter (soprano), Kate Maroney (mezzo soprano), Gene Stenger (tenor), Dashon Burton (bass baritone), Ian David Rosenbaum (percussion), Jeffrey Douma (conductor), Nick Lloyd (recording engineer). NOTE: Originally composed 2007
4. [9:14] Reiko Füting: Mechthild - Act I: Verwunden, vereint/Wound, United: Scene 3: Im Gemach der Gottheit/In the Room of Divinity (Part 4–5). From Mechthild (New Focus, 2023) with Mechthild's soul: Hanna Herfurtner (soprano), Mechthild's body: Olivia Stahn (soprano), Sophia: Susi Wirth (narrator), AuditivVokal Dresden, Ensemble Adapter, Olaf Katzer (conductor). NOTE: Text by Mechthild of Magdeburg
5. [10:15] Reiko Füting: Mechthild - Act I: Verwunden, vereint/Wound, United: Scene 3: Im Gemach der Gottheit/In the Room of Divinity (Part 5). From Mechthild (credits as above)
6. [12:21] Edi beo thu Hevene Quene (excerpts). From Gabriel's Message: Festive Music from Medieval England (Magnatune, 2010) with Mediva, Ann Allen (direction). NOTE: Twinsong, England, 13th century
7. [14:43] David Lang: penance and remorse. From The Little Match Girl Passion (credits as above)
8. [16:01] David Lang: she again rubbed a match. From The Little Match Girl Passion (credits as above)
9. [17:31] Clara sonent organa. From Hodie Christus natus est (credits as above). NOTE: Instrumental, Aquitaine, 12th century
10. [21:44] David Lang: The Little Match Girl Passion - when it is time. From The Little Match Girl Passion (credits as above)
11. [24:50] Verbum patris umanatur o o. From The Earliest Songbook in England (Hyperion, 2000) with Gothic Voices: Steven Harrold, Rogers Covey-Crump, Leigh Nixon (tenors), Christopher Page (director). NOTE: Three-part conductus, England, c.1180
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SET 2: David Del Tredici (1937–2023) [26:33]
1. [32:27] David Del Tredici: Adventures Underground - 2. The Mouse's Tail. From Pop-Pourri, Adventures Underground (Albany, 2023) with Hila Plitmann (soprano), Albany Symphony Orchestra, David Alan Miller (conductor). NOTE: Composed 1971, revised 1977
2. [45:24] Mark Feldman: MF. From Begin, Again (Relay, 2023) with Mark Feldman (violin), Nick Broste (recording engineer)
3. [48:40] Tim Daisy: Too Many Names. From Begin, Again (Relay, 2023) with Jeb Bishop (trombone), Mark Feldman (violin), Tim Daisy (drums, radio), Nick Broste (recording engineer)
4. [55:37] Outro with David Del Tredici: Jabberwocky (a melodrama)
5. [59:31] Angelika Niescier: Hic Svnt Dracones. From Beyond Dragons (Intakt, 2023) with Angelika Niescier (alto saxophone), Tomeka Reid (cello), Savannah Harris (drums), John Abbey (recording engineer)
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SET 3: Acoustic and electronic [1:10:45]
1. [1:11:47] Leonor Falcón: Etude 2. From Peach and Tomato (577, 2023) with Sana Nagano (violin, effects), Leonor Falcón (viola, effects), Michael Perez-Cisneros (recording engineer)
2. [1:16:47] Vasco Trilla: Acoustic Mask #6. From Acoustic Masks (577, 2022) with Vasco Trilla (snare drum, clocl chimes), El Pricto (recording engineer)
3. [1:19:29] Beatriz Ferreyra: Vuelo de signos y remolinos. From UFO Forest + (Room40, 2023) with Hernan Gomez (flute), Beatriz Ferreyra. NOTE: Realized 2010. First recording
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SET 4: 50 years ago in the avant-garde [1:22:23]
1. [1:26:03] Giya Kancheli: Symphony No. 3. From Symphonies (Melodiya, 1984, reissued by Beaux, 2010) with Gamlet Gonashvili (voice), Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra, Jansug Kakhidze (conductor). NOTE: Composed 1973, premiered October 11, 1973 in Tbilisi, Georgia, USSR, recorded 1979
2. [1:56:13] Outro with Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Photo credits: Beyond Dragons (Savannah Harris, Angelika Niescier, Tomeka Reid) by Michael Jackson, Giya Kancheli by Ruth Walz, David Del Tredici: Adventures Underground, Mark Feldman by Michael Jackson, David Robertson by Chris Lee, Lewis Carroll: Alice’s Adventures Under Ground, David Lang by Peter Serling, Sana Nagano and Leonor Falcón by Luke Marantz, Beatriz Ferreyra by GRM INA, Reiko Füting by Hojoon Kim, Boston Camerata (Camila Parias, Anne Azéma, Deborah Rentz-Moore) by Dan Busler