Search - John [1] Cage :: John Cage: Solo for Voice 58; 18 Microtonal Ragas

"Amelia Cuni is one of the very few Westerners to have mastered the complexities of Indian vocal music...It is all more remarkable that she sings dhrupad, a style which is usually the exclusive province of men...Cuni is an excellent performer who explores the subtle nuance of each raga in extended alap sections and metered compositions. Her acute rhythmic control and fine sense of intonation lead many inspired, beautiful, and surprising musical moments." - Songlines"A clear, and typically multicultural, highlight was a captivating conceptual setting of Indian dhrupad vocalizing by Italian Amelia Cuni, in collusion with electronic manipulation by Werner Durand and elaborate projections by Uli Sigg...alternately sensual, bold, and contemplative." - Los Angeles Times"This is 'crossover' at its most fruitful, in which irregular dance rhythms come tumbling out against the nasal yet dusky singing of the Italian-born Cuni, whose voice makes a good case for reincarnation." - The Times"Amelia Cuni is one of only a handful of Western women to seriously study dhrupad, an austere style of classical North Indian music; whatever the technical specs of her vocal control, she sounds like a master to me, but with a vulnerability that undercuts the machismo that is mastery's trap...At times, these layers of voice and image began to flutter like rose petals in the winds of time, and without budging from his seat, this reviewer simply left the hall." - The WireThe world premiere of Solo for Voice 58 by legendary American avant-garde composer John Cage. Italian-German dhrupad singer Amelia Cuni is the ideal interpreter, trained in classical Indian singing but also able to improvise on ragas in a new music context. Cuni has developed from Cage's score of eighteen raga scales a remarkable and unique interpretation that belongs to both the classical Indian and Western experimental traditions. Percussionists Ray Kaczynski and Federico Sanesi utilize both Eastern and Western instruments, and composer/performer Werner Durand performs both traditional Indian drones and specially-designed electronics.Long regarded by the musical establishment as a fringe figure, John Cage (1912-1992) is widely regarded today as an anchor in the sea of modern music. Born in Los Angeles, Cage traveled to Europe in his late teens, then studied with Henry Cowell in New York and Arnold Schoenberg in L.A. In the late 1940's, Cage became interested in Eastern philosophies, especially Zen but also Hinduism, which influenced the composition of the work on this CD. In addition to composing, John Cage was a lecturer and performer in both Europe and the US, and wrote several books on his theories. Today much of his music, once considered bizarre, has entered the mainstream of contemporary culture.